Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH), Division of Food Protection · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Simpson County food-facility health permits run about $40–$264.50 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $224.25. Confirm the exact amount with Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH), Division of Food Protection 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 Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH), Division of Food Protection issues the health permit. Mississippi sets food-establishment permit fees at the state level; Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH), Division of Food Protection is the licensing authority. If your city or county runs its own health department, local fees and rules may also apply — confirm for your exact address.
About 34 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 25,715. (U.S. Census 2023 estimate; County Business Patterns 2022, NAICS 722)
Last verified: 2026-08-18 — 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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 establishment permit / license (state-set)
Annual permit fee set by risk level assigned at plan review:
Risk 1 $40.00
Risk 2 $132.25
Risk 3 $198.00
Risk 4 $264.50 (most sit-down restaurants fall in Risk 3 or 4)
Set at the state level by Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH), Division of Food Protection; a single statewide fee schedule; Effective Page last reviewed 2024-09-13. Where a city or county runs its own health department it may set local fees instead
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Simpson County’s permit cost compares
At about $40/year, Simpson County’s restaurant health permit is about the Mississippi median ($40) and below the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 15% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 64th-lowest of 82 Mississippi 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 34 food & drinking establishments serve ~25,715 residents in Simpson County — one per ~756 residents, sparser than the Mississippi average (one per ~661).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$40 annual health permit + $224 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.
Equipment your Simpson 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.
This is a typical sequence — confirm the exact sequence with your authority having jurisdiction.
Confirm whether Simpson County 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 Simpson County?
Annual permit fee set by risk level assigned at plan review: Risk 1 $40.00; Risk 2 $132.25; Risk 3 $198.00; Risk 4 $264.50 (most sit-down restaurants fall in Risk 3 or 4) These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Simpson County?
Plan review may apply; check locally with the department. Typical fees: $224.25
Who issues food permits in Simpson County?
Food permits here are issued by Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH), Division of Food Protection. 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