Restaurants, commercial kitchens, and food trucks.
Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency, Environmental Health Division · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Tulare County food-facility health permits run about $743–$867 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $122. Confirm the exact amount with Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency, 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 Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency, Environmental Health Division issues the health permit.
About 670 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 479,468. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 →
Restaurant / food-facility permit
Restaurant (annual, by risk)
$745 low risk
$743 moderate risk
$867 high risk
Fee Schedule FY2026-2027, effective July 1, 2026. Retail facility (grocery/market): $661 / $757 / $1,031 by risk
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Tulare County’s permit cost compares
At about $743/year, Tulare County’s restaurant health permit is above the California median ($491) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 99% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 32nd-lowest of 40 California 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 670 food & drinking establishments serve ~479,468 residents in Tulare County — one per ~716 residents, sparser than the California average (one per ~491).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$743 annual health permit + $122 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.
Watch out for
All food facilities (restaurants, MFFs, schools, shared kitchens, etc.) must complete Food Facility Plan Review before permitting
Re-inspection fee is 75% of the original permit amount; REHS hourly rate $122
Contact Environmental Health at 559-624-7400
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
caterer
$448
Caterer $448; Catering Host Permit $481
commissary/shared/central kitchen
$481-$662
Commissary/Shared Kitchen; Low $481 / Moderate $658 / High $662; Commissary Addendum to Facility Permit $561
bakery
$632
Bakery
market/grocery with deli
$661-$1,031
Retail Facility; Low $661 / Moderate $757 / High $1,031; add-ons: Deli $113, Fish/Meat Department $126, Additional Food Prep Operation $122
No named pushcart; Walk-Up $653; lowest-risk retail: Retail Facility; Low Risk $661; Roadside Stand; Permanent $448
Equipment your Tulare 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.
$745 low risk; $743 moderate risk; $867 high risk These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Tulare County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: Plan Review; Retail Food Facility: $122/hr
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Tulare County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Annual; requires commissary form; Walk-up $653
Who issues food permits in Tulare County?
Food permits here are issued by Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency, 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