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Local permits & fees

Union County, NJ Food Facility Permits & Fees

Restaurants and food trucks.

Union County Office of Health Management (Environmental Health) - provides environmental-health services to participating municipalities; retail food LICENSING is municipal · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the 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 Union County Office of Health Management (Environmental Health) - provides environmental-health services to participating municipalities; retail food LICENSING is municipal issues the health permit.

About 1,268 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 572,726. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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

Retail Food Establishment License (issued by the municipality, not the county)
  • municipal, set by each town'
  • s ordinance
  • not a county fee (NJ retail-food licensing is municipal)
  • Confirm with the local municipal health office

The Office of Health Management provides environmental-health services (including for retail food) to participating Union County municipalities; Some jurisdictions are NOT covered by the county office (e.g., Scotch Plains, Roselle, Berkeley Heights, and Union County Parks), which run their own health/commissary oversight; Office at 400 North Avenue East, Westfield, NJ 07090

Plan review — required

  • plan-review fee not published on the county page
  • in NJ the plan-review fee is generally collected by the municipality per ordinance

Turnaround: not published

Plan-review details & forms →

Reach the department

Phone(908) 518-5630
Emailhealth@ucnj.org
Office400 North Avenue East, Westfield, NJ 07090
Websiteucnj.org →
Plan reviewucnj.org →

Inspection grading

Placard (Pass/Conditional/Closed or color)

Under State Sanitary Code Chapter 24 (N.J.A.C. 8:24), establishments post a color-coded placard: Satisfactory (white), Conditionally Satisfactory (yellow), or Unsatisfactory (red).

Food truck / mobile permit

Temporary/Mobile Retail Food Establishment Application (county pre-operational inspection; municipal approvals required)
  • not published on the county application
  • All municipal approvals must be obtained before operating/vending

Pre-operational inspection is conducted at the Union County Office of Health Management, 400 North Avenue East, Westfield; Approval expires Dec 31 of the current year; Certified/food-handler-trained workers must be present at all times; commissary inspection report required; Submit via rehs@ucnj.org; contact 908-654-9730

How to apply

Union County fees & payment information →Forms & applications →

Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.

Local food-service market

About 1,268 food & drinking establishments serve ~572,726 residents in Union County — one per ~452 residents, denser than the New Jersey average (one per ~481).

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

Watch out for

  • NJ retail-food licensing is municipal; the Union County Office of Health Management provides inspection/plan services; annual licenses are issued by the municipality
  • The county office does not cover every Union County municipality (Scotch Plains, Roselle, Berkeley Heights, and county parks are handled separately)

Equipment your Union 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 Union County with its neighbors.

Essex County, NJ
Restaurant permit: $150
Hudson County, NJ
Restaurant permit: See page
Middlesex County, NJ
Restaurant permit: See page
Morris County, NJ
Restaurant permit: See page
Somerset County, NJ
Restaurant permit: See page
Richmond County, NY
Restaurant permit: $280

How to open: typical permitting sequence

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

  1. Confirm whether Union County or another local jurisdiction (city/district) handles your exact address.
  2. Confirm zoning and permitted use.
  3. Prepare your menu and scaled plans.
  4. Include an equipment schedule with ANSI/NSF spec sheets.
  5. Submit water-heater and hood documentation.
  6. Pay plan-review fees.
  7. Respond to plan-check corrections.
  8. Obtain Environmental Health plan approval.
  9. Obtain building, plumbing, mechanical and fire approvals.
  10. Schedule rough-plumbing, pre-final and final health inspections.
  11. Pay the operating-permit / application fees.
  12. Receive approval before storing or preparing food.

Official plan-check requirements: plan-check guide →

Frequently asked questions

How much is a food permit in Union County?

municipal, set by each town's ordinance; not a county fee (NJ retail-food licensing is municipal); Confirm with the local municipal health office These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.

Is plan review required in Union County?

Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: plan-review fee not published on the county page; in NJ the plan-review fee is generally collected by the municipality per ordinance

Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Union County?

In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Pre-operational inspection is conducted at the Union County Office of Health Management, 400 North Avenue East, Westfield; Approval expires Dec 31 of the current year; Certified/food-handler-trained workers must be present at all times; commissary inspection report required; Submit via rehs@ucnj.org; contact 908-654-9730

Who issues food permits in Union County?

Food permits here are issued by Union County Office of Health Management (Environmental Health) - provides environmental-health services to participating municipalities; retail food LICENSING is municipal. 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.
New Jersey 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: ucnj.org · ucnj.org · www.nj.gov · observed 2026-08-07
Published by Resultex Media Group LLC · Independent & vendor-neutral · Educational only, not legal or engineering advice · Last verified September 2026