Washington County, AR Food Facility Permits & Fees
Restaurants and food trucks.
Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), Food Protection Program (state-administered; local county health unit accepts applications) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Washington County food-facility health permits run about $35 annually. Plan review runs about $35. Confirm the exact amount with Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), Food Protection Program (state-administered; local county health unit accepts applications) 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 Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), Food Protection Program (state-administered; local county health unit accepts applications) issues the health permit.
About 590 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 261,549. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 Permit (Restaurant)
$35.00 annual (flat)
Statewide flat annual fee set by Ark; Code 20-57-204. ADH permits and inspects food establishments in Washington County (Fayetteville); applications are submitted to the local county health department at least 30 days before opening
Plan review — required
ADH requires plans be submitted 30 days prior to opening
no separate plan-review fee is published (permit is a flat $35)
Turnaround: plans/application due at least 30 days before opening
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Washington County’s permit cost compares
At about $35/year, Washington County’s restaurant health permit is about the Arkansas median ($35) and below the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 7% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 72nd-lowest of 75 Arkansas 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 590 food & drinking establishments serve ~261,549 residents in Washington County — one per ~443 residents, denser than the Arkansas average (one per ~703).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$35 annual health permit + $35 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
State-administered flat fee: $35 annual for essentially every retail food category statewide (Ark; Code 20-57-204)
Public schools and charter schools are $0; all other listed categories are $35
Application (EHP-99) must be submitted with fee to the regulatory authority 30 days prior to opening
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
Bakery / food processing
$35.00 annual (Retail Deli/Bakery)
Listed on the ADH retail food permit application as 'Retail Deli/Bakery.'
Grocery / market with deli
$35.00 (Food Store) + $35.00 (Retail Deli/Bakery) if a deli is operated
ADH lists 'Food Store' and 'Retail Deli/Bakery' as separate $35 categories
Pushcart / mobile vending
$35.00 annual (Food Mobile / Push Cart)
ADH application category 'Food Mobile / Push Cart.'
Temporary / seasonal event
temporary/seasonal event permits are not listed on the ADH retail food permit application (EHP-99); handled separately
The standard EHP-99 categories are all flat $35 annual permits; temporary event permitting is not itemized on that form
Equipment your Washington 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.
$35.00 annual (flat) These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Washington County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: ADH requires plans be submitted 30 days prior to opening; no separate plan-review fee is published (permit is a flat $35)
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Washington County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Mobile units and push carts pay the same $35 flat annual permit fee as fixed establishments
Who issues food permits in Washington County?
Food permits here are issued by Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), Food Protection Program (state-administered; local county health unit accepts applications). 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