Restaurants, commercial kitchens, and food trucks.
Will County Health Department, Division of Environmental Health · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Will County food-facility health permits run about $50–$730 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $190–$570. Confirm the exact amount with Will County Health Department, Division of 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 Will County Health Department, Division of Environmental Health issues the health permit.
About 1,292 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 700,728. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 / food-facility permit
Food Service Establishment Permit
0-40 seats/students $255
41-100 seats $400
101+ seats or caterer/commissary $730
school milk cooler only $50
Permit issued after a satisfactory pre-opening inspection; Certified Food Protection Manager required; Fees non-refundable; Fee amounts taken from the WCHD Food Service Establishment Permit application (rev; 10/17); Confirm current-year amounts with WCHD
Plan review — required
By seats:
0-40 $260
41-100 $395
101+ or commissary/caterer $570
minor plan review for existing facility $190 flat
priority (7-day) review = 2x applicable fee
Turnaround: Initial review generally 10-14 days; expedited/priority 7 days for 2x fee
Illinois Food Code risk-based inspection; result recorded as Pass, Pass with Conditions, or Fail (no score/letter grade). County health dept posts inspection reports online.
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile Vending / mobile food (licensed through WCHD Environmental Health)
WCHD references a mobile vending program but no specific mobile/food-truck fee is published online; contact Environmental Health (815-727-8480) to confirm; Not published
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Will County’s permit cost compares
At about $50/year, Will County’s restaurant health permit is below the Illinois median ($125) and below the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 19% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 4th-lowest of 62 Illinois 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 1,292 food & drinking establishments serve ~700,728 residents in Will County — one per ~542 residents, sparser than the Illinois average (one per ~483).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$50 annual health permit + $190 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
Plan review payment due at submission; drawings need not be from an architect but must include keyed equipment layout plus mechanical/plumbing/electrical
Three offices: Joliet (main, 501 Ella Ave), Bolingbrook (north), Monee (east)
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
caterer
$876/yr
Listed as combined 'Commissary and Caterers (including seasonal facilities)' annual permit in Appendix A; plan review fee $684
commissary/central kitchen
$876/yr
Same combined 'Commissary and Caterers' line as caterer; plan review $684
market/grocery with deli (retail food store)
plan review $228-$630 by sq ft
Retail Food Store plan review: <250 sq ft $228; 250-5,000 $264; 5,001-10,000 $420; 10,001+ $630. Annual permit issued under food establishment permit
temporary/special-event
Low $72 / Med $108 / High $162
Temporary Food Service/Retail Food Permit by risk; late fee $50 if <7 days prior, doubled if <=3 days prior; 50% non-profit discount
multi-location temporary (seasonal)
Low $350 / Med $550
Multiple Location Temporary Food Permit, valid Apr 1-Oct 31. Seasonal fixed facilities are folded into seat-based food establishment fees ($306/$480/$876)
pushcart/limited operation
—
Push carts for frozen novelties / hot or cold holding: plan review 'N/A' in Appendix A
Not permitted by WCHD; regulated by IL Dept of Agriculture/FDA
Equipment your Will 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.
0-40 seats/students $255; 41-100 seats $400; 101+ seats or caterer/commissary $730; school milk cooler only $50 These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Will County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: By seats: 0-40 $260; 41-100 $395; 101+ or commissary/caterer $570; minor plan review for existing facility $190 flat; priority (7-day) review = 2x applicable fee
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Will County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. WCHD references a mobile vending program but no specific mobile/food-truck fee is published online; contact Environmental Health (815-727-8480) to confirm; Not published
Who issues food permits in Will County?
Food permits here are issued by Will County Health Department, Division of 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