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Local permits & fees

Wells County, IN Food Facility Permits & Fees

Restaurants and food trucks.

Wells County Health Department · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Wells County food-facility health permits run about $100 annually. Confirm the exact amount with Wells County Health 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 Wells County Health Department issues the health permit.

About 36 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 28,555. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 Establishment Permit
$100.00 per year

Seasonal $50/6 months; limited food permit $35/year; B&B $35/year; temporary $5/day; Late fee $20/day

Plan review — required

Fee not published online.

Reach the department

Phone260-824-6489
Emailmhoag@wellscounty.org
Office223 W Washington St Bluffton, IN 46714
Websitewellscounty.org →

Inspection grading

How inspection results are scored/posted here is pending verification — ask the department.

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Establishment
$35.00 per year

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 Wells County’s permit cost compares

At about $100/year, Wells County’s restaurant health permit is about the Indiana median ($100) and below the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 45% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 33rd-lowest of 63 Indiana 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 36 food & drinking establishments serve ~28,555 residents in Wells County — one per ~793 residents, sparser than the Indiana average (one per ~577).

U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).

Budget the permit stack

Start with ~$100 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 Wells 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

Nearby counties

Permit costs and rules change at the county line — compare Wells County with its neighbors.

Adams County, IN
Restaurant permit: See page
Allen County, IN
Restaurant permit: $130
Blackford County, IN
Restaurant permit: $100
Grant County, IN
Restaurant permit: See page
Huntington County, IN
Restaurant permit: $100
Jay County, IN
Restaurant permit: See page

How to open: typical permitting sequence

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

  1. Confirm whether Wells County or another local jurisdiction (city/district) handles your exact address.
  2. Confirm zoning and permitted use.
  3. Prepare your menu and scaled plans.
  4. Include an equipment schedule with ANSI/NSF spec sheets.
  5. Submit water-heater and hood documentation.
  6. Pay plan-review fees.
  7. Respond to plan-check corrections.
  8. Obtain Environmental Health plan approval.
  9. Obtain building, plumbing, mechanical and fire approvals.
  10. Schedule rough-plumbing, pre-final and final health inspections.
  11. Pay the operating-permit / application fees.
  12. Receive approval before storing or preparing food.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a food permit in Wells County?

$100.00 per year These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.

Is plan review required in Wells County?

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

Who issues food permits in Wells County?

Food permits here are issued by Wells County Health Department. 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.
Indiana 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: wellscounty.org · wellscounty.org · observed 2026-08-21
Published by Resultex Media Group LLC · Independent & vendor-neutral · Educational only, not legal or engineering advice · Last verified September 2026