Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), Food Protection Program, administered through the Sebastian County local health unit (Fort Smith). State-administered flat-fee system; county does not set its own fee. · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Sebastian County food-facility health permits run about $35 annually. Plan review runs about $50–$500. Confirm the exact amount with Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), Food Protection Program, administered through the Sebastian County local health unit (Fort Smith). State-administered flat-fee system; county does not set its own fee. 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 Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), Food Protection Program, administered through the Sebastian County local health unit (Fort Smith). State-administered flat-fee system; county does not set its own fee. issues the health permit.
About 273 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 129,098. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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
Retail Food Establishment / Food Service Establishment Permit - ADH
$35.00 flat annual permit fee (statewide)
Late fee equal to one-half the renewal fee if renewed more than 60 days after expiration
Arkansas charges a single statewide flat $35 annual food service permit regardless of establishment size or type; First-year permit is issued with the application; the $35 recurs annually
Plan review — required
1% of total estimated construction cost, minimum $50.00, maximum $500.00 (new or remodeled facilities)
Arkansas Dept. of Health issues no letter grade or score — only in/out of compliance; full inspection reports posted in the ADH online portal.
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile Food Establishment Permit - ADH
$35.00 flat annual permit fee (same statewide food service permit
ADH does not publish a separate mobile-specific fee)
Mobile food units are food service establishments under ADH rules and carry the same flat $35 annual permit; a commissary is required; Confirm any local Fort Smith fire/zoning requirements separately
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Sebastian County’s permit cost compares
At about $35/year, Sebastian County’s restaurant health permit is about the Arkansas median ($35) and below the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 7% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 65th-lowest of 75 Arkansas 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 273 food & drinking establishments serve ~129,098 residents in Sebastian County — one per ~473 residents, denser than the Arkansas average (one per ~703).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$35 annual health permit + $50 plan review.
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
State-administered flat fee: $35/year for essentially all food service establishments
Plan review is percentage-of-cost based (1%, $50 min / $500 max)
Temporary food establishment permits (14 consecutive days or less) exist but fee is not published statewide; contact the Sebastian County local health unit
Late renewal penalty is half the renewal fee after 60 days past expiration
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
Caterer
$35.00 (same statewide flat food service permit)
Arkansas applies one flat $35 annual food service permit to essentially all retail food operations regardless of category
Bar / limited food service
$35.00 (same statewide flat food service permit)
Flat ADH food service permit; alcohol licensing is separate through Arkansas ABC
Grocery / market with deli
$35.00 (same statewide flat food service permit)
Retail food stores/markets carry the same flat $35 ADH permit
Temporary / seasonal event
temporary permit (14 consecutive days or less) exists but the fee is not published statewide; contact the Sebastian County local health unit
Application form EHP-93; fee set locally/administratively
Equipment your Sebastian 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.
$35.00 flat annual permit fee (statewide); Late fee equal to one-half the renewal fee if renewed more than 60 days after expiration These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Sebastian County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: 1% of total estimated construction cost, minimum $50.00, maximum $500.00 (new or remodeled facilities)
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Sebastian County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Mobile food units are food service establishments under ADH rules and carry the same flat $35 annual permit; a commissary is required; Confirm any local Fort Smith fire/zoning requirements separately
Who issues food permits in Sebastian County?
Food permits here are issued by Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), Food Protection Program, administered through the Sebastian County local health unit (Fort Smith). State-administered flat-fee system; county does not set its own fee.. 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