Local permits & fees

City and County of San Francisco, CA Food Facility Permits & Fees

Restaurants and food trucks.

San Francisco Department of Public Health - Environmental Health Branch · department site →

Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Confirm the authority for your exact address. Some cities run their own health division, and building, planning, fire, sewer/grease and business-license approvals are separate even when San Francisco Department of Public Health - Environmental Health Branch issues the health permit.

About 3,900 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 808,988. (U.S. Census 2023 estimate; County Business Patterns 2022, NAICS 722)

Last verified: 2026-08-21 — we re-confirmed the serving authority, its contact, and that the fees below match the current published schedule. Fee schedules may carry an earlier effective date (shown per fee); local ordinances & amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date? Report an update →

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Food Facility Health Permit

$0 (waived)

Per SFDPH EHB Fee Schedule (FY27, revised 7/1/2026; license rates effective 7/1/26-6/30/27), the annual license/permit fee is $0 for Restaurants (Under 1,000 sq ft; 1,000-2,000 sq ft; Over 2,000 sq ft), Bars/Taverns (with or without food prep), Take-Outs, Caterers, and Mobile Food Facilities; SF eliminated these annual permit license fees; Non-zero food fees remain for some categories (e.g., Boarding Houses $365, Supermarkets $1,593-$1,991, Retail Markets, Cottage Food Tier A $172/Tier B $599)

Plan review — required

Category 1 (small remodel/storefront/restroom/bar within a restaurant, 3 hrs) $828
Category 2 (prepackaged/bar/lounge, 4.5 hrs) $1,241
Category 3 (new construction or remodel of retail restaurants/coffee/deli/supermarket, 8 hrs) $2,207
hourly $276

Reach the department

Websitewww.sf.gov →

Inspection grading

How inspection results are scored/posted here is pending verification — ask the department.

Inspection scores & grading

Grading system: 0-100 numeric score (no placard/letter grade). SF Dept. of Public Health scores each restaurant 1-100; violations categorized high/moderate/low risk. City & county are consolidated.

Look up City and County of San Francisco restaurant inspection scores →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Facility

$0 annual permit (waived)

Annual Mobile Food Facility Low/High Risk permit license fee = $0. Plan check fees still apply: Mobile Food Facility Low Risk Plan Check $414, High Risk $690

How to apply

See the department site above.

Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.

Local food-service market

About 3,900 food & drinking establishments serve ~808,988 residents in City and County of San Francisco — one per ~207 residents, denser than the California average (one per ~491).

U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).

The full approval stack

A code-compliant kitchen in City and County of San Francisco needs more than the health permit — these approvals are handled by separate offices. Confirm current requirements with each.

Building / plans	San Francisco Department of Building Inspection (DBI) · 628-652-3450
Fire marshal	San Francisco Fire Department - Permit Center / Bureau of Fire Prevention · 628-652-3472
Zoning / planning	San Francisco Planning Department · 415-558-6377
Sewer / grease	San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) - FOG Control (Pretreatment Program)
Business license	SF Office of the Treasurer & Tax Collector - Business Registration · 311

Equipment your City and County of San Francisco plan review will check

Health-department plan review looks for specific, code-compliant fixtures. Compare spec-filtered options, then confirm counts and sizes with your local requirements. See the full list in what equipment a commercial kitchen requires.

Compartment sinks

3-bay wash / rinse / sanitize — sized to your menu

Hand sinks

required in prep, cook & warewashing areas

Grease traps / interceptors

sized by drainage fixture units

Reach-in refrigeration

cold-holding at 41°F or below

Work tables & surfaces

NSF-listed, non-absorbent

Hoods & ventilation

over cooking equipment; make-up air

Dishwashers

high-temp or chemical sanitizing

Nearby counties

Permit costs and rules change at the county line — compare City and County of San Francisco with its neighbors.

Alameda County, CA

Restaurant permit: $998

Contra Costa County, CA

Restaurant permit: $1,010

Marin County, CA

Restaurant permit: $578

San Mateo County, CA

Restaurant permit: $1,460

How to open: typical permitting sequence

This is a typical sequence — confirm the exact sequence with your authority having jurisdiction.

Confirm whether City and County of San Francisco or another local jurisdiction (city/district) handles your exact address.
Confirm zoning and permitted use.
Prepare your menu and scaled plans.
Include an equipment schedule with ANSI/NSF spec sheets.
Submit water-heater and hood documentation.
Pay plan-review fees.
Respond to plan-check corrections.
Obtain Environmental Health plan approval.
Obtain building, plumbing, mechanical and fire approvals.
Schedule rough-plumbing, pre-final and final health inspections.
Pay the operating-permit / application fees.
Receive approval before storing or preparing food.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a food permit in City and County of San Francisco?

$0 (waived) These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.

Is plan review required in City and County of San Francisco?

Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: Category 1 (small remodel/storefront/restroom/bar within a restaurant, 3 hrs) $828; Category 2 (prepackaged/bar/lounge, 4.5 hrs) $1,241; Category 3 (new construction or remodel of retail restaurants/coffee/deli/supermarket, 8 hrs) $2,207; hourly $276

Do I need a commissary for a food truck in City and County of San Francisco?

In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Annual Mobile Food Facility Low/High Risk permit license fee = $0. Plan check fees still apply: Mobile Food Facility Low Risk Plan Check $414, High Risk $690

Who issues food permits in City and County of San Francisco?

Food permits here are issued by San Francisco Department of Public Health - Environmental Health Branch. See the department site for current details.

Are city building and fire approvals separate?

Yes — building, plumbing, mechanical and fire approvals are always separate from the health permit and are often handled by different offices.

California statewide rules

Who licenses you, reciprocity, and the state regime.

What equipment you need

Build a tailored equipment checklist for your concept.

Permits & plan review, explained

The stack of approvals before you open.

Sources: www.sf.gov · media.api.sf.gov · observed 2026-08-21