Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment, Environmental Health Services · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Weld County food-facility health permits run about $481–$581 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $100–$155. Confirm the exact amount with Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment, Environmental Health 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 Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment, Environmental Health Services issues the health permit.
About 502 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 359,442. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 →
Retail food license fees in Colorado are set STATEWIDE by statute (SB25-285), not by the county; the same schedule applies whether CDPHE or a local agency (Weld) inspects; Fees rose 25% for 2026 with further increases in 2027 and 2028. 2026 fees apply to new licenses issued on/after Sept 1, 2025
Plan review — required
$100 plan review application fee (Weld County plan review packet)
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Weld County’s permit cost compares
At about $481/year, Weld County’s restaurant health permit is above the Colorado median ($338) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 98% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 64th-lowest of 64 Colorado 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 502 food & drinking establishments serve ~359,442 residents in Weld County — one per ~716 residents, sparser than the Colorado average (one per ~428).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$481 annual health permit + $155 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
Colorado retail food license fees are STATE-SET under SB25-285 (signed 5/30/2025); Weld runs its own local public health agency but charges the state fee schedule
Three-year phase-in: +25% in 2026, +20% in 2027, +20% in 2028
Applications submitted online via myhealthdepartment.com/weldcounty
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.
$481 (0-100 seats) / $538 (101-200 seats) / $581 (over 200 seats), 2026; source https://citizenportal.ai/articles/2934317/Colorado/State-Board-outlines-new-food-establishment-license-fees-for-2026-to-2028 These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Weld County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: $100 plan review application fee (Weld County plan review packet); source https://www.weld.gov/files/sharedassets/public/v/1/departments/health-and-environment/documents/catering-operations-plan-review-packet_1-13-2021.pdf; the CDPHE statewide retail food plan review fee is $155 for CDPHE-directly-inspected jurisdictions; source https://cdphe.colorado.gov/dehs/rf/licensing
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Weld County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Mobile unit fees are part of the statewide SB25-285 schedule
Who issues food permits in Weld County?
Food permits here are issued by Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment, Environmental Health 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