Warren County Health Department (Monmouth, IL) — Food Service · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Warren County food-facility health permits run about $85–$300 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Confirm the exact amount with Warren County Health Department (Monmouth, IL) — Food Service 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 Warren County Health Department (Monmouth, IL) — Food Service issues the health permit.
About 37 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 16,185. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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
Retail Food Service Establishment Permit
By square footage x risk category; <2000 sq ft:
Cat I $200 / Cat II $110 / Cat III $85
2000-3000 sq ft: Cat I $250 / Cat II $160 / Cat III $100
over 3000 sq ft: Cat I $300 / Cat II $210 / Cat III $115
Fee is a matrix of square footage x risk category (I/II/III); Late fee $35 (not renewing permit before expiration)
No separate mobile fee published in the retail food permit application
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 Warren County’s permit cost compares
At about $85/year, Warren County’s restaurant health permit is below the Illinois median ($125) and below the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 34% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 11th-lowest of 62 Illinois 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 37 food & drinking establishments serve ~16,185 residents in Warren County — one per ~437 residents, denser than the Illinois average (one per ~483).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$85 annual health permit.
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 Warren 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.
This is a typical sequence — confirm the exact sequence with your authority having jurisdiction.
Confirm whether Warren 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 Warren County?
By square footage x risk category; <2000 sq ft: Cat I $200 / Cat II $110 / Cat III $85; 2000-3000 sq ft: Cat I $250 / Cat II $160 / Cat III $100; over 3000 sq ft: Cat I $300 / Cat II $210 / Cat III $115 These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Warren County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility.
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Warren County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. No separate mobile fee published in the retail food permit application
Who issues food permits in Warren County?
Food permits here are issued by Warren County Health Department (Monmouth, IL) — Food Service. 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