Restaurants: Florida DBPR, Division of Hotels & Restaurants (statewide). Groceries/markets/food processing: Florida Dept of Agriculture & Consumer Services (FDACS), Division of Food Safety. St. Lucie County does not issue its own food-establishment permits or fees. · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
St. Lucie County food-facility health permits run about $126–$357 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Confirm the exact amount with Restaurants: Florida DBPR, Division of Hotels & Restaurants (statewide). Groceries/markets/food processing: Florida Dept of Agriculture & Consumer Services (FDACS), Division of Food Safety. St. Lucie County does not issue its own food-establishment permits or fees. 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 Restaurants: Florida DBPR, Division of Hotels & Restaurants (statewide). Groceries/markets/food processing: Florida Dept of Agriculture & Consumer Services (FDACS), Division of Food Safety. St. Lucie County does not issue its own food-establishment permits or fees. issues the health permit.
About 487 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 373,586. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 →
500+ $183.50. Plus $50 new-application/change-of-ownership fee
Statewide DBPR fee schedule under FAC 61C-1.008; identical in every FL county; Fees verified on the official DBPR Food Service Fees page 2026-08-10. Includes $10 Hospitality Education Program surcharge
State DBPR Division of Hotels & Restaurants inspects; outcome is met-standards / warning / emergency closure with violations listed, no letter grade; searchable statewide online database.
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile Food Dispensing Vehicle (MFDV) license (DBPR)
$347/yr (half-year $178.50)
Statewide DBPR fee; commissary/base of operation required; Local municipal (Port St; Lucie) mobile-vendor rules may also apply
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How St. Lucie County’s permit cost compares
At about $126/year, St. Lucie County’s restaurant health permit is below the Florida median ($242) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 57% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 11th-lowest of 66 Florida 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 487 food & drinking establishments serve ~373,586 residents in St. Lucie County — one per ~767 residents, sparser than the Florida average (one per ~701).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$126 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
Restaurant licensing is 100% state-administered by DBPR; no county annual permit fee
Grocery stores, markets, convenience stores and food processors are permitted by FDACS (Rule 5K-4.020), not DBPR
Caterers licensed by DBPR at $263/yr; vending machines $21/yr
FDACS retail food fees are under a proposed 2025 rule amendment that would reduce several categories
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
Caterer
$263
DBPR caterer license, annual (half-year $136.50)
Bakery / food processing
$355
FDACS retail bakery (Rule 5K-4.020); retail bakery with food service $490; wholesale bakery $530. Proposed 2025 amendment would reduce these
Grocery / market with deli
$540
FDACS (Rule 5K-4.020): grocery store $540; convenience store $330; convenience store w/ limited food service $430; supermarket $650. Proposed 2025 amendment would reduce grocery to $465, supermarket to $500, conv+food to $385
Temporary / seasonal event
$91
DBPR temporary food service: 1-3 day event $91; 4-30 day event $105; annual temporary vendor $456
Pushcart / mobile vending
$347
DBPR Mobile Food Dispensing Vehicle license, annual (half-year $178.50)
Equipment your St. Lucie 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.
Nonseating $242/yr; seating by capacity: 1-49 seats $262, 50-149 $273, 150-249 $294, 250-349 $315, 350-499 $336, 500+ $357 (annual); Half-year rates: nonseating $126; 1-49 $136; 50-149 $141.50; 150-249 $152; 250-349 $162.50; 350-499 $173; 500+ $183.50. Plus $50 new-application/change-of-ownership fee These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in St. Lucie County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: $0
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in St. Lucie County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Statewide DBPR fee; commissary/base of operation required; Local municipal (Port St; Lucie) mobile-vendor rules may also apply
Who issues food permits in St. Lucie County?
Food permits here are issued by Restaurants: Florida DBPR, Division of Hotels & Restaurants (statewide). Groceries/markets/food processing: Florida Dept of Agriculture & Consumer Services (FDACS), Division of Food Safety. St. Lucie County does not issue its own food-establishment permits or fees.. 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