Restaurants, commercial kitchens, and food trucks.
Wake County Environmental Health & Safety (Food, Lodging & Institutions / Plan Review) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Wake County food-facility health permits run about $75 annually. Plan review runs about $75–$250. Confirm the exact amount with Wake County Environmental Health & Safety (Food, Lodging & Institutions / Plan Review) 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 Wake County Environmental Health & Safety (Food, Lodging & Institutions / Plan Review) issues the health permit.
About 2,563 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 1,190,275. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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
Food Service Establishment Permit (issued after plan review + inspection)
$75 statutory permit fee per permit issued (set by NC GS 130A-248
local health departments charge $75 for each food establishment permit)
NC does not levy a separate annual renewal fee
the permit remains valid until change of ownership/location
In NC the state sets the $75 permit fee; state-funded inspections mean there is no separate annual inspection charge; One certified food protection manager is required per establishment
Plan review — required
$250 plan review fee for a new Primary Permitted Facility (from Wake County plan review application documents)
Temporary Food Establishment permit $75 each
Turnaround: About 10 business days for mobile-unit/pushcart plan review once a complete application is submitted; plan review must be approved before construction/opening
Sanitation score converts to a required grade card — A 90-100, B 80-89, C 70-79 (below 70 cannot operate) — posted at the establishment and available online.
Inspection scores & grading
Grading system: 0-100. Wake County Environmental Health & Safety inspects 1-4x/yr and posts a numeric sanitation score (grade card): A = 90+, B = 80-89.9, C = 70-79.9; score below 70 = permit revoked immediately. Reports at wake-nc.healthinspections.us. County covers all municipalities (NC health is county-based).
Requires an approved commissary visited daily (Wake County does not supply a commissary list); Plan review required (~10 business day response); Specific mobile-unit permit dollar amount not published on wake.gov in reviewed sources; null (the NC statutory $75 permit fee applies at issuance)
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Wake County’s permit cost compares
At about $25/year, Wake County’s restaurant health permit is below the North Carolina median ($70) and below the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 1% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 1st-lowest of 95 North Carolina 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 2,563 food & drinking establishments serve ~1,190,275 residents in Wake County — one per ~464 residents, denser than the North Carolina average (one per ~598).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$25 annual health permit + $75 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.
The full approval stack
A code-compliant kitchen in Wake County needs more than the health permit — these approvals are handled by separate offices. Confirm current requirements with each.
NC permit fee is state-set at $75 (GS 130A-248); there is no separate annual renewal fee and inspections are state-funded
Plan review and permit applications/fees are submitted online via the Tyler/EnerGov Self-Service portal; permits do NOT transfer on sale of the business
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
temporary food establishment (TFE)
$75 per permit
Per event; applications/fees due >=15 calendar days before event
pushcart
—
NC charges no annual permit fee for food establishments (only plan-review/TFE fees); menu limited to hot dogs/encased meats; commissary agreement required
commissary/central kitchen
—
No separate permit; restaurant/deli/catering facility may serve as commissary if approved; agreement required at application
limited food service establishment
—
NC establishment classification (15A NCAC 18A .2600); no annual permit fee under NC law
Equipment your Wake 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.
$75 statutory permit fee per permit issued (set by NC GS 130A-248; local health departments charge $75 for each food establishment permit); NC does not levy a separate annual renewal fee; the permit remains valid until change of ownership/location These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Wake County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: $250 plan review fee for a new Primary Permitted Facility (from Wake County plan review application documents); Temporary Food Establishment permit $75 each
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Wake County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Requires an approved commissary visited daily (Wake County does not supply a commissary list); Plan review required (~10 business day response); Specific mobile-unit permit dollar amount not published on wake.gov in reviewed sources; null (the NC statutory $75 permit fee applies at issuance)
Who issues food permits in Wake County?
Food permits here are issued by Wake County Environmental Health & Safety (Food, Lodging & Institutions / Plan Review). 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