Restaurants, commercial kitchens, and food trucks.
Solano County Department of Resource Management, Environmental Health Division · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Solano County food-facility health permits run about $420–$2,863 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $183–$3,221. Confirm the exact amount with Solano County Department of Resource Management, Environmental Health Division 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 Solano County Department of Resource Management, Environmental Health Division issues the health permit.
About 781 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 449,218. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 Establishment (annual, by square footage and risk)
<300 sq ft:
$420 (low) / $524 (med) / $641 (high)
301-1,000 sq ft: $685 / $855 / $993
1,001-3,000 sq ft: $931 / $1,165 / $1,418
scaling to >
40,000 sq ft: $1,876 / $2,347 / $2,863
Fee Schedule effective July 1, 2026 (FY2026-27); Tiered by size and risk level; Microenterprise Home Kitchen (MEHKO) $521
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Solano County’s permit cost compares
At about $420/year, Solano County’s restaurant health permit is below the California median ($491) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 97% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 17th-lowest of 40 California 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 781 food & drinking establishments serve ~449,218 residents in Solano County — one per ~575 residents, sparser than the California average (one per ~491).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$420 annual health permit + $183 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
Applications, fee payment, inspection scheduling and record printing available 24/7 via the Accela online permitting portal
Jurisdiction covers Benicia, Dixon, Fairfield, Rio Vista, Suisun City, Vacaville, Vallejo and unincorporated areas
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
caterer
$526
Catering Registration $526; Out of County Catering Registration $380
commissary/shared/central kitchen
$420
Compact Mobile Food Commissary $420; Host Facility $420; Microenterprise Home Kitchen $521
temporary/seasonal/special-event
$62-$785
Special Event Organizer $300 (2-5 booths) / $449 / $595 / $785 (>20); Temp Food Booth Seasonal Low $196 / Med $236 / High $354; Single Event Low $62 / Med $94 / High $134; Food Establishment; Seasonal $356
pushcart/limited or low-risk operation
$150-$321
Non-Motorized Food Cart; Low Risk $150 / High Risk $321
food processing/wholesale
$420
Only wholesale-adjacent listing: Cottage Food Direct and/or Wholesale Permit $420. No general food-processing/wholesale category published
Equipment your Solano 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.
<300 sq ft: $420 (low) / $524 (med) / $641 (high); 301-1,000 sq ft: $685 / $855 / $993; 1,001-3,000 sq ft: $931 / $1,165 / $1,418; scaling to >40,000 sq ft: $1,876 / $2,347 / $2,863 These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Solano County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: Plan Check/Construction Inspection: $1,160 (<300 sq ft); $1,690 (301-1,000); $1,946 (1,001-3,000); $2,296 (3,001-9,000); $3,221 (>9,000); Remodel $765; Minor plan check $183/hr
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Solano County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Annual; Seasonal mobile event $451; single event $182
Who issues food permits in Solano County?
Food permits here are issued by Solano County Department of Resource Management, Environmental Health Division. 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