Local permits & fees

Slope County, ND Food Facility Permits & Fees

Restaurants and food trucks.

North Dakota Health and Human Services, Food & Lodging (fees fixed in state administrative code NDAC 33-33-08-01 under NDCC 23-01-03 / 23-09); local public health units administer/collect in many areas. · department site →

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

Slope County food-facility health permits run about $130 annually. Plan review runs about $100. Confirm the exact amount with North Dakota Health and Human Services, Food & Lodging (fees fixed in state administrative code NDAC 33-33-08-01 under NDCC 23-01-03 / 23-09); local public health units administer/collect in many areas. 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 North Dakota Health and Human Services, Food & Lodging (fees fixed in state administrative code NDAC 33-33-08-01 under NDCC 23-01-03 / 23-09); local public health units administer/collect in many areas. issues the health permit. North Dakota sets food-establishment permit fees at the state level; North Dakota Health and Human Services, Food & Lodging (fees fixed in state administrative code NDAC 33-33-08-01 under NDCC 23-01-03 / 23-09); local public health units administer/collect in many areas. 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.

Population about 674. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 (NDAC 33-33-08-01):

restaurant/catering kitchen (general food service) $130 plus $0.50 per seat, max $310
limited restaurant $130

Set at the state level by North Dakota Health and Human Services, Food & Lodging (fees fixed in state administrative code NDAC 33-33-08-01 under NDCC 23-01-03 / 23-09); local public health units administer/collect in many areas; a single statewide fee schedule; Effective 2026-01-01. Where a city or county runs its own health department it may set local fees instead

Plan review — check locally

50% of the annual license fee when a plan review application is required (NDAC 33-33-08-01(1)(n))
initial applications also add a $100 license application administration fee (does not apply to temporary)

Reach the department

Phone701-523-3144

Emailkpavlish@nd.gov

OfficeSouthwestern District Health Unit - Bowman/Slope Office, 104 First Street NW, Suite 6, Bowman, ND 58623

Websitendlegis.gov →

Inspection grading

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

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile food establishment (state-set)

$130 annual (mobile food unit)

State-set mobile-food fee; confirm commissary and local requirements

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.

How Slope County’s permit cost compares

At about $130/year, Slope County’s restaurant health permit is about the North Dakota median ($130) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 60% of U.S. counties.

Ranked 43rd-lowest of 53 North Dakota counties by permit cost.

Comparison uses the lowest published annual restaurant-permit figure in each county; confirm your exact tier with the department.

Budget the permit stack

Start with ~$130 annual health permit + $100 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 Slope 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.

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 Slope County with its neighbors.

Fallon County, MT

Restaurant permit: $85

Adams County, ND

Restaurant permit: $130

Billings County, ND

Restaurant permit: $130

Bowman County, ND

Restaurant permit: $130

Golden Valley County, ND

Restaurant permit: $130

Hettinger County, ND

Restaurant permit: $130

Stark County, ND

Restaurant permit: $130

How to open: typical permitting sequence

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

Confirm whether Slope 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 Slope County?

Annual (NDAC 33-33-08-01): restaurant/catering kitchen (general food service) $130 plus $0.50 per seat, max $310; limited restaurant $130 These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.

Is plan review required in Slope County?

Plan review may apply; check locally with the department. Typical fees: 50% of the annual license fee when a plan review application is required (NDAC 33-33-08-01(1)(n)); initial applications also add a $100 license application administration fee (does not apply to temporary)

Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Slope County?

In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. State-set mobile-food fee; confirm commissary and local requirements

Who issues food permits in Slope County?

Food permits here are issued by North Dakota Health and Human Services, Food & Lodging (fees fixed in state administrative code NDAC 33-33-08-01 under NDCC 23-01-03 / 23-09); local public health units administer/collect in many areas.. 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.

North Dakota 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: ndlegis.gov · www.hhs.nd.gov · observed 2026-08-21