Suffolk County Department of Health Services, Bureau of Public Health Protection (Food Protection) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Suffolk County food-facility health permits run about $130–$1,190 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Confirm the exact amount with Suffolk County Department of Health Services, Bureau of Public Health Protection (Food Protection) 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 Suffolk County Department of Health Services, Bureau of Public Health Protection (Food Protection) issues the health permit.
About 3,835 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 1,523,170. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 →
201+ seats $1,190. (Tavern/Bakery/Deli/Frozen Dessert/Off-Premises Caterer $425 each
In-Home Caterer $130
Food Commissary $670)
Exact seat-tiered schedule taken from the reverse ('Schedule of Food Permit Fees') of the county Food Establishment Permit Application; Pay by check/money order to Commissioner of Health Services (Visa/MC accepted)
State/local health departments inspect to the NYS Sanitary Code; violations listed in the statewide online database, no letter grade (NYSDOH does not support grading).
Inspection scores & grading
Grading system: pass-fail (violations noted, no letter grade or placard). Suffolk County Dept. of Health Services (Office of Food Protection) inspects all towns/villages; no posted grade. Detailed reports via FOIL; data also on the NY State food-service inspection dataset at health.data.ny.gov.
Mobile Food Establishment / Temporary Food Service Permit
Temporary events:
Organizer permit $210 (+$70 late fee if <
21 days before event)
Vendor permit $95 (+$70 late fee if <
14 days before event)
multi-event vendor $95 first + $50 each additional
Temporary-event fees confirmed from county Temporary Food Service FAQ; Standalone mobile-unit annual fee not separately published in the reviewed schedule
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Suffolk County’s permit cost compares
At about $130/year, Suffolk County’s restaurant health permit is below the New York median ($150) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 60% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 10th-lowest of 31 New York 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 3,835 food & drinking establishments serve ~1,523,170 residents in Suffolk County — one per ~397 residents, denser than the New York average (one per ~445).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$130 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.
The full approval stack
A code-compliant kitchen in Suffolk County needs more than the health permit — these approvals are handled by separate offices. Confirm current requirements with each.
Plan review and approval required before construction/operation; contact Plan Review Unit at 631-852-5873
All food service establishments must have a certified Person-in-Charge (Food Safety Certificate) on site during all hours of operation
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
caterer
—
"Off-Premises Catering" approval required for a permitted food service establishment to prepare/serve food off-site at private events; a written proposal must be submitted and approved (no separate permit fee published); Off-site public-event catering instead requires a Temporary Event Permit
temporary/seasonal/special-event
$210 organizer permit (+$70 late fee if <21 days before event)
Temporary Event Permit for food/beverage service at public events; Bureau of Public Health Protection
pushcart/limited operation
$95 first permit + $50 each additional (same calendar year)
"Temporary Food/Beverage Service Multiple Event Vendor Permit" for vendors operating at multiple events
Equipment your Suffolk 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.
Food Service annual fee by seats: 0-16 seats $425; 17-49 seats $450; 50-100 seats $630; 101-200 seats $865; 201+ seats $1,190. (Tavern/Bakery/Deli/Frozen Dessert/Off-Premises Caterer $425 each; In-Home Caterer $130; Food Commissary $670) These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Suffolk County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility.
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Suffolk County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Temporary-event fees confirmed from county Temporary Food Service FAQ; Standalone mobile-unit annual fee not separately published in the reviewed schedule
Who issues food permits in Suffolk County?
Food permits here are issued by Suffolk County Department of Health Services, Bureau of Public Health Protection (Food Protection). 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