Wicomico County Health Department, Environmental Health · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Wicomico County food-facility health permits run about $200–$450 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Confirm the exact amount with Wicomico County Health Department, Environmental Health 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 Wicomico County Health Department, Environmental Health issues the health permit.
About 186 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 104,800. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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
Food Facility License
High Risk $450
Moderate Risk $350
Low Risk / Pre-packaged foods only $200
Yearly fee for commercial facilities by risk assessment (High/Moderate/Low); No fee/license for excluded bona fide nonprofit organizations per COMAR; Change of Ownership application fee $100
Mobile and temporary permits governed by COMAR 10.15.03; specific amounts not published in the change-of-ownership packet; Contact Environmental Health for the current schedule
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 Wicomico County’s permit cost compares
At about $200/year, Wicomico County’s restaurant health permit is above the Maryland median ($100) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 77% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 19th-lowest of 20 Maryland 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 186 food & drinking establishments serve ~104,800 residents in Wicomico County — one per ~563 residents, about the Maryland average (one per ~563).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$200 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 Wicomico 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.
This is a typical sequence — confirm the exact sequence with your authority having jurisdiction.
Confirm whether Wicomico 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.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a food permit in Wicomico County?
High Risk $450; Moderate Risk $350; Low Risk / Pre-packaged foods only $200 These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Wicomico County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility.
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Wicomico County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Mobile and temporary permits governed by COMAR 10.15.03; specific amounts not published in the change-of-ownership packet; Contact Environmental Health for the current schedule
Who issues food permits in Wicomico County?
Food permits here are issued by Wicomico County Health Department, Environmental Health. 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