Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Food, Pools & Lodging Services - Metro District Office. Scott County is NOT a delegated licensing authority; restaurants and food/beverage service establishments in Scott County are licensed directly by MDH (per the MDH state-and-local contacts list, Scott County = MDH, Metro District). Retail grocery/markets are licensed by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA). Fee amounts are set by state statute (Minn. Stat. 157.16). · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Scott County food-facility health permits run about $300 annually. Confirm the exact amount with Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Food, Pools & Lodging Services - Metro District Office. Scott County is NOT a delegated licensing authority; restaurants and food/beverage service establishments in Scott County are licensed directly by MDH (per the MDH state-and-local contacts list, Scott County = MDH, Metro District). Retail grocery/markets are licensed by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA). Fee amounts are set by state statute (Minn. Stat. 157.16). 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 Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Food, Pools & Lodging Services - Metro District Office. Scott County is NOT a delegated licensing authority; restaurants and food/beverage service establishments in Scott County are licensed directly by MDH (per the MDH state-and-local contacts list, Scott County = MDH, Metro District). Retail grocery/markets are licensed by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA). Fee amounts are set by state statute (Minn. Stat. 157.16). issues the health permit.
About 232 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 155,814. (U.S. Census 2023 estimate; County Business Patterns 2022, NAICS 722)
Last verified: 2026-08-17 — 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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 and Beverage Service Establishment License (MDH)
Per Minn; Stat; 157.16:
$300 base fee PLUS the highest applicable category fee
Statewide fees identical in every MDH-licensed jurisdiction; Establishments must pay the highest applicable category fee plus the base and additional fees; Grocery/markets are licensed separately by MDA
Plan review — required
MDH plan-review / construction-review fee is not itemized in Minn
Stat
157.16
a separate plan-review fee applies for new construction/remodeling
Contact MDH FPLS (651-201-4500) for the current amount
MDH/MDA (and delegated programs) inspect under the Minnesota Food Code; no letter grade or score. Minnesota generally does not post results online — reports available on request.
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile Food Unit / Food Cart License (MDH)
$150 (food cart, mobile food unit, seasonal temporary food stand, or seasonal permanent food stand) per Minn
Stat
157.16, PLUS $50 statewide hospitality fee and $5 technology fee
Mobile units are licensed by MDH statewide; a base-of-operations/commissary is required
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Scott County’s permit cost compares
At about $300/year, Scott County’s restaurant health permit is above the Minnesota median ($50) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 93% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 78th-lowest of 81 Minnesota counties by permit cost.
Comparison uses the lowest published annual restaurant-permit figure in each county; confirm your exact tier with the department.
Local food-service market
About 232 food & drinking establishments serve ~155,814 residents in Scott County — one per ~672 residents, sparser than the Minnesota average (one per ~519).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$300 annual health permit.
Plus building, fire, and business-license fees that vary locally — use the cost calculators and the checklist below to budget the full stack.
Watch out for
AUTHORITY: Scott County is licensed directly by MDH (Metro District Office); it is NOT a delegated county for food/restaurant licensing
Retail grocery / markets in Scott County are licensed by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), not MDH
Special event food stand: $75 annually (Minn; Stat; 157.16)
Statewide hospitality fee: $50 per licensed activity, annually; technology fee $5 per licensed activity
Base fee $300 applies to all except special event stands; highest applicable category fee (Cat 1 $185 / Cat 2 $430 / Cat 3 $670) is added
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
Grocery / market with deli
retail grocery/markets in Scott County are licensed by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) under a separate fee schedule, not by MDH
MDH licenses restaurants/food service; MDA licenses retail food (grocery)
Temporary / seasonal event
$75 (special event food stand); $150 (seasonal temporary food stand or seasonal permanent food stand); each plus $50 hospitality fee and $5 technology fee
Per Minn; Stat; 157.16; a base of operations/commissary is required
Equipment your Scott County 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.
Per Minn; Stat; 157.16: $300 base fee PLUS the highest applicable category fee; Category 1 (low-risk) $185, Category 2 (medium-risk) $430, Category 3 (high-risk) $670; PLUS a $50 statewide hospitality fee and a $5 technology fee per licensed activity; Example full-service restaurant (Cat 3): $300 + $670 + $50 + $5 = $1,025 These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Scott County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: MDH plan-review / construction-review fee is not itemized in Minn; Stat; 157.16; a separate plan-review fee applies for new construction/remodeling; Contact MDH FPLS (651-201-4500) for the current amount
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Scott County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Mobile units are licensed by MDH statewide; a base-of-operations/commissary is required
Who issues food permits in Scott County?
Food permits here are issued by Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Food, Pools & Lodging Services - Metro District Office. Scott County is NOT a delegated licensing authority; restaurants and food/beverage service establishments in Scott County are licensed directly by MDH (per the MDH state-and-local contacts list, Scott County = MDH, Metro District). Retail grocery/markets are licensed by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA). Fee amounts are set by state statute (Minn. Stat. 157.16).. 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.
Published by Resultex Media Group LLC · Independent & vendor-neutral · Educational only, not legal or engineering advice · Last verified September 2026