Tompkins County Whole Health, Environmental Health Division · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Tompkins County food-facility health permits run about $210–$450 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $150–$210. Confirm the exact amount with Tompkins County Whole Health, 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 Tompkins County Whole Health, Environmental Health Division issues the health permit.
About 242 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 103,558. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 Establishment Operating Permit
High Risk $450
Medium Risk $375
Low Risk $210 (annual)
Per Tompkins County Environmental Health Division fee schedule (55 Brown Rd, Ithaca); Figures from published EH fee schedule
Mobile fee not separately confirmed in the retrieved schedule; Temporary food permits range from ~$65 (1-day simple menu) upward by menu complexity/duration
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 Tompkins County’s permit cost compares
At about $210/year, Tompkins County’s restaurant health permit is above the New York median ($150) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 78% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 22nd-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 242 food & drinking establishments serve ~103,558 residents in Tompkins County — one per ~428 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 ~$210 annual health permit + $150 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 Tompkins 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 Tompkins 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 Tompkins County?
High Risk $450; Medium Risk $375; Low Risk $210 (annual) These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Tompkins County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: High & Medium Risk $210; Low Risk $150
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Tompkins County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Mobile fee not separately confirmed in the retrieved schedule; Temporary food permits range from ~$65 (1-day simple menu) upward by menu complexity/duration
Who issues food permits in Tompkins County?
Food permits here are issued by Tompkins County Whole Health, 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