Washington County, OR Food Facility Permits & Fees
Restaurants, commercial kitchens, and food trucks.
Washington County Environmental Health (Dept. of Health & Human Services) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Washington County food-facility health permits run about $335–$770 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Confirm the exact amount with Washington County Environmental Health (Dept. of Health & Human Services) 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 Washington County Environmental Health (Dept. of Health & Human Services) issues the health permit.
About 1,287 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 598,865. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 and Food Service Facilities Fees 2026-27'
PDF
Annual licenses expire Dec 31 and are non-transferable; Two unannounced inspections/year; a score of 70 is required to pass; Oregon Food Sanitation Rules effective Jan 1, 2026
Plan review — required
specific plan review fee not published on public pages
county directs applicants to Plan Review Application packet
Oregon 100-point sanitation score (pass at 70); Washington County posts scores online.
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile Food Unit License
Statewide statutory fee per ORS 624.490:
$255 per mobile unit (commissary $350, warehouse $180)
County'
s 2026-27 fee PDF lists current amounts
Mobile units must operate from a licensed restaurant, commissary, or warehouse unless they have a very limited menu and adequate equipment/utensils to operate without a base
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 $335/year, Washington County’s restaurant health permit is above the Oregon median ($180) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 94% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 31st-lowest of 35 Oregon 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 1,287 food & drinking establishments serve ~598,865 residents in Washington County — one per ~465 residents, sparser than the Oregon average (one per ~443).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$335 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.
Watch out for
Online portal is for paying license fees and filing complaints, NOT for submitting new applications
License fees are set statewide by ORS 624.490 (Oregon), so county amounts track the statute
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
caterer
—
Catering licensed ('Restaurants, Catering and B&Bs'); fee via online portal (not published on page)
commissary/central kitchen
—
Food Commissary license category; fee not published
food processing/wholesale
—
Food Warehouse license category; fee not published
temporary/seasonal/special-event
—
Temporary Food Booths license category; fee not published
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.
Statewide statutory fees per ORS 624.490: Full-service restaurant $530 (0-15 seats), $600 (16-50), $700 (51-150), $770 (150+); Limited-service $335. County publishes a 'Restaurant and Food Service Facilities Fees 2026-27' PDF 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: specific plan review fee not published on public pages; county directs applicants to Plan Review Application packet; Not found
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 must operate from a licensed restaurant, commissary, or warehouse unless they have a very limited menu and adequate equipment/utensils to operate without a base
Who issues food permits in Washington County?
Food permits here are issued by Washington County Environmental Health (Dept. of Health & Human Services). 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