St. Mary's County, MD Food Facility Permits & Fees
Restaurants and food trucks.
St. Mary's County Health Department, Division of Environmental Health · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
St. Mary's County food-facility health permits run about $140–$385 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Confirm the exact amount with St. Mary's County Health Department, Division of Environmental Health 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 St. Mary's County Health Department, Division of Environmental Health issues the health permit.
About 194 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 115,281. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 Service Annual Operating License
High Priority $385
Medium Priority $210
Low Priority $140
Annual license based on HACCP priority; From the Environmental Health Fee Schedule effective July 1, 2025
SMCHD licenses permanent, seasonal, and temporary food service facilities; temporary permit available for facilities operating <=14 days; Specific mobile/temporary amounts in the EH Fee Schedule (eff; 7/1/2025)
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 St. Mary's County’s permit cost compares
At about $140/year, St. Mary's County’s restaurant health permit is above the Maryland median ($100) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 61% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 14th-lowest of 20 Maryland 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 194 food & drinking establishments serve ~115,281 residents in St. Mary's County — one per ~594 residents, sparser than the Maryland average (one per ~563).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$140 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.
Equipment your St. Mary's 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 St. Mary's 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 St. Mary's County?
High Priority $385; Medium Priority $210; Low Priority $140 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. Mary's County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility.
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in St. Mary's County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. SMCHD licenses permanent, seasonal, and temporary food service facilities; temporary permit available for facilities operating <=14 days; Specific mobile/temporary amounts in the EH Fee Schedule (eff; 7/1/2025)
Who issues food permits in St. Mary's County?
Food permits here are issued by St. Mary's County Health Department, Division of Environmental Health. 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