Restaurants, commercial kitchens, and food trucks.
Tulsa Health Department (Food Protection Services) - administers Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) food licenses; fees are state-administered, with separate city licenses · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Tulsa County food-facility health permits run about $335–$425 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $425. Confirm the exact amount with Tulsa Health Department (Food Protection Services) - administers Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) food licenses; fees are state-administered, with separate city licenses 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 Tulsa Health Department (Food Protection Services) - administers Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) food licenses; fees are state-administered, with separate city licenses issues the health permit.
About 1,638 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 682,868. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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
State Food Establishment License (OSDH), administered by Tulsa Health Dept
plus City of Tulsa license $155 + $5 processing fee
State-administered flat fees (not size/seating based); City license is additional and varies by municipality (Tulsa & Bixby $155+$5; Broken Arrow $50-$315 by employee count +$5)
Tulsa Health Dept: no letter grade or score — violations logged as priority/priority-foundation/core; inspection reports public online.
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile Food Establishment
$425 (OSDH state fee, required for all mobile operations)
prepackaged-only units exempt from the plan-review fee
Commissary Agreement required for units doing food prep; Food Truck Freedom Act provides statewide reciprocity; City permits may also apply (Tulsa 918-596-9456)
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Tulsa County’s permit cost compares
At about $335/year, Tulsa County’s restaurant health permit is above the Oklahoma median ($125) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 94% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 77th-lowest of 77 Oklahoma 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 1,638 food & drinking establishments serve ~682,868 residents in Tulsa County — one per ~417 residents, denser than the Oklahoma average (one per ~619).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$335 annual health permit + $425 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
Food license fees are state-administered by OSDH: $425 plan review + $425 initial license, then $335/yr renewal
A separate city license is required (Tulsa/Bixby $155+$5; Broken Arrow by employee count)
Temporary/seasonal event license (OSDH) $50 first day + $25 each additional day, max $250 (up to 14 days)
Mobile units selling only prepackaged food (no prep) are exempt from plan review; Food Truck Freedom Act gives statewide reciprocity
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
Temporary / seasonal event
$50 first day + $25 each additional day, max $250 (OSDH, up to 14 days)
State-administered temporary/seasonal food event license via Tulsa Health Department
Pushcart / mobile vending
$425 (OSDH state fee for all mobile operations)
Prepackaged-only units are exempt from plan review; commissary agreement required for prep units; City permits may also apply; Food Truck Freedom Act = statewide reciprocity
Commissary / central preparation kitchen
no separate commissary permit fee published by Tulsa Health Dept; a Commissary Agreement form is required for mobile units; Confirm at 918-595-4300
Commissary is documented via an agreement, not a distinct priced permit type
Equipment your Tulsa 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.
$425 initial food license + $335 annual renewal (OSDH, state-administered); plus City of Tulsa license $155 + $5 processing fee These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Tulsa County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: $425 (OSDH plan review application, one-time)
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Tulsa County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Commissary Agreement required for units doing food prep; Food Truck Freedom Act provides statewide reciprocity; City permits may also apply (Tulsa 918-596-9456)
Who issues food permits in Tulsa County?
Food permits here are issued by Tulsa Health Department (Food Protection Services) - administers Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) food licenses; fees are state-administered, with separate city licenses. 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