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.
Stark 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.
About 74 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 33,001. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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)
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 Stark County’s permit cost compares
At about $130/year, Stark 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 44th-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.
Local food-service market
About 74 food & drinking establishments serve ~33,001 residents in Stark County — one per ~446 residents, sparser than the North Dakota average (one per ~374).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
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 Stark 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 Stark 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 Stark 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 Stark 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 Stark 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 Stark 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.
Published by Resultex Media Group LLC · Independent & vendor-neutral · Educational only, not legal or engineering advice · Last verified September 2026