Local permits & fees

Uintah County, UT Food Facility Permits & Fees

Restaurants and food trucks.

TriCounty Health Department · department site →

Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Uintah County food-facility health permits run about $300–$600 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $250–$450. Confirm the exact amount with TriCounty Health Department 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 TriCounty Health Department issues the health permit.

About 70 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 37,747. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 Permit

$300-$600 (Category I-IV)

Annual Food Service Permit: Category I $300, Category II $400, Category III $500, Category IV $600; additional catering fee $200. 2026 fee schedule; District covers Daggett, Duchesne and Uintah counties

Plan review — required

$250 (Category I) / $350 (Category II) / $450 (Category III)

Reach the department

Phone(435) 247-1177

OfficeTriCounty Health Department, 133 South 500 East, Vernal, UT 84078

Websitewww.tricountyhealthut.gov →

Inspection grading

How inspection results are scored/posted here is pending verification — ask the department.

Food truck / mobile permit

Food Truck

$350 (Tier 1) / $500 (Tier 2)

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 Uintah County’s permit cost compares

At about $300/year, Uintah County’s restaurant health permit is above the Utah median ($250) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 93% of U.S. counties.

Ranked 29th-lowest of 29 Utah 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 70 food & drinking establishments serve ~37,747 residents in Uintah County — one per ~539 residents, denser than the Utah average (one per ~589).

U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).

Budget the permit stack

Start with ~$300 annual health permit + $250 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 Uintah 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.

Compartment sinks

3-bay wash / rinse / sanitize — sized to your menu

Hand sinks

required in prep, cook & warewashing areas

Grease traps / interceptors

sized by drainage fixture units

Reach-in refrigeration

cold-holding at 41°F or below

Work tables & surfaces

NSF-listed, non-absorbent

Hoods & ventilation

over cooking equipment; make-up air

Dishwashers

high-temp or chemical sanitizing

Nearby counties

Permit costs and rules change at the county line — compare Uintah County with its neighbors.

Garfield County, CO

Restaurant permit: $338

Moffat County, CO

Restaurant permit: $338

Rio Blanco County, CO

Restaurant permit: $338

Carbon County, UT

Restaurant permit: $162

Daggett County, UT

Restaurant permit: $300

Duchesne County, UT

Restaurant permit: $300

Emery County, UT

Restaurant permit: $162

Grand County, UT

Restaurant permit: $162

How to open: typical permitting sequence

This is a typical sequence — confirm the exact sequence with your authority having jurisdiction.

Confirm whether Uintah 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 Uintah County?

$300-$600 (Category I-IV) These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.

Is plan review required in Uintah County?

Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: $250 (Category I) / $350 (Category II) / $450 (Category III)

Who issues food permits in Uintah County?

Food permits here are issued by TriCounty Health Department. 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.

Utah statewide rules

Who licenses you, reciprocity, and the state regime.

What equipment you need

Build a tailored equipment checklist for your concept.

Permits & plan review, explained

The stack of approvals before you open.

Sources: www.tricountyhealthut.gov · www.tricountyhealthut.gov · observed 2026-08-21