Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Retail Food Establishments program · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Willacy County food-facility health permits run about $258–$773 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Confirm the exact amount with Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Retail Food Establishments program 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 Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Retail Food Establishments program issues the health permit. Texas sets food-establishment permit fees at the state level; Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Retail Food Establishments program is the licensing authority. If your city or county runs its own health department, local fees and rules may also apply — confirm for your exact address.
About 21 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 20,037. (U.S. Census 2023 estimate; County Business Patterns 2022, NAICS 722)
Last verified: 2026-08-21 — 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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 permit / license (state-set)
Annual permit by gross annual food sales:
$0-$49,999.99 = $258
$50,000-$149,999.99 = $515
$150,000+ = $773
Set at the state level by Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Retail Food Establishments program; a single statewide fee schedule; Effective FY26. Where a city or county runs its own health department it may set local fees instead
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Willacy County’s permit cost compares
At about $258/year, Willacy County’s restaurant health permit is about the Texas median ($258) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 91% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 234th-lowest of 247 Texas 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 21 food & drinking establishments serve ~20,037 residents in Willacy County — one per ~954 residents, sparser than the Texas average (one per ~566).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$258 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 Willacy 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 Willacy 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 Willacy County?
Annual permit by gross annual food sales: $0-$49,999.99 = $258; $50,000-$149,999.99 = $515; $150,000+ = $773 These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Who issues food permits in Willacy County?
Food permits here are issued by Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Retail Food Establishments program. 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