Local permits & fees

Washington County, DC Food Facility Permits & Fees

Q: How much is a food permit in Washington County?

280 These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.

Q: Is plan review required in Washington County?

Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility.

Q: 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. DC Health mobile Health Certificate application $100 (+$75 HACCP review if required); pre-operational inspection reinspections $150 each; DLCP mobile-vending Basic Business License ~$550-$700 total (application ~$200 + vending endorsement ~$300); employee badges ~$50 each; Prime downtown locations allocated via the Mobile Roadway Vending (MRV) lottery (~$65/day, capped ~$450/month)

Q: Who issues food permits in Washington County?

Food permits here are issued by DC Health - Food Safety and Hygiene Inspection Services Division (business licensing via DLCP). See the department site for current details.

Q: 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.

Restaurants and food trucks.

DC Health - Food Safety and Hygiene Inspection Services Division (business licensing via DLCP) · 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 DC Health - Food Safety and Hygiene Inspection Services Division (business licensing via DLCP) issues the health permit.

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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 Establishment Retail License (Restaurant category) + Basic Business License

280

third-party/older guidance cites ~$280 (<3,000 sq ft) / ~$560 (larger), and Delicatessen tier ~$133 (0-10 seats)/$166 (11-50 seats); A Basic Business License (~$70) via DLCP is also required; Confirm current amounts with DC Health (202-442-5955)

Plan review — required

Fee not published online.

Plan-review details & forms →

Reach the department

Phone(202) 442-5955

Office2201 Shannon Place SE, Washington, DC 20020

Websitedchealth.dc.gov →

Plan reviewdchealth.dc.gov →

Inspection grading

Pass/fail

DC Health conducts pass/fail inspections (no grade or score); Priority/Priority Foundation/Core violation counts and full reports posted online, searchable by name/zip.

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Vending - DC Health Certificate + DLCP Mobile Vending BBL

100

DC Health mobile Health Certificate application $100 (+$75 HACCP review if required); pre-operational inspection reinspections $150 each; DLCP mobile-vending Basic Business License ~$550-$700 total (application ~$200 + vending endorsement ~$300); employee badges ~$50 each; Prime downtown locations allocated via the Mobile Roadway Vending (MRV) lottery (~$65/day, capped ~$450/month)

How to apply

Washington County fees & payment information →Forms & applications →

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

Watch out for

Two agencies involved: DC Health (food safety/health certificate) and DLCP (Basic Business License)
Prime public curbside food-truck spots are allocated through the MRV lottery, not first-come

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

Category	Annual fee	Notes
caterer	—	"Caterer" is a distinct DCRA/DLCP food-services BBL category (prepares/provides food for consumption off the premises where prepared); Food-services Basic Business License fee is $99 (2-year) / $198 (4-year) per DLCP; category-specific fee not separately published
bakery	$99 (2-yr) / $198 (4-yr) BBL	"Bakery" listed as a DLCP food-services license category; general food-services BBL fee applies
market/grocery with deli	$99 (2-yr) / $198 (4-yr) BBL	DLCP categories "Grocery Store" and "Delicatessen"; DC Health also inspects delicatessens and grocery/retail markets
food processing/wholesale	$99 (2-yr) / $198 (4-yr) BBL	DLCP category "Marine Food Product (Wholesale)"; DC Health inspects wholesale markets and candy/ice-cream manufacturers; Related category "Food Products" covers prepackaged food handling

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.

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

How to open: typical permitting sequence

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

Confirm whether Washington 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.

Official plan-check requirements: plan-check guide →

Frequently asked questions

How much is a food permit in Washington County?

280 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.

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. DC Health mobile Health Certificate application $100 (+$75 HACCP review if required); pre-operational inspection reinspections $150 each; DLCP mobile-vending Basic Business License ~$550-$700 total (application ~$200 + vending endorsement ~$300); employee badges ~$50 each; Prime downtown locations allocated via the Mobile Roadway Vending (MRV) lottery (~$65/day, capped ~$450/month)

Who issues food permits in Washington County?

Food permits here are issued by DC Health - Food Safety and Hygiene Inspection Services Division (business licensing via DLCP). 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.

District of Columbia 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: dchealth.dc.gov · dchealth.dc.gov · doh.dc.gov · dchealth.dc.gov · observed 2026-08-06