Williamson County, TN Food Facility Permits & Fees
Restaurants and food trucks.
Tennessee Department of Health, Environmental Health Program (state-administered; Williamson County Health Department) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Williamson County food-facility health permits run about $210–$360 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Confirm the exact amount with Tennessee Department of Health, Environmental Health Program (state-administered; Williamson 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 Tennessee Department of Health, Environmental Health Program (state-administered; Williamson County Health Department) issues the health permit.
About 559 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 264,460. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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
$210 per year (0-50 seats) / $360 per year (51+ seats)
AUTHORITY: Williamson County is STATE-ADMINISTERED; the Tennessee Dept of Health (not a county-run agency) inspects and permits food service establishments; Fees are set statewide by rule (T.C.A; 68-14-713) effective Jan 1, 2026 under 2025 Public Chapter 400, which moved fee-setting from statute to administrative rule; Permit year runs July 1-June 30
Plan review — required
Tennessee requires plan review for new/extensively remodeled food service establishments, but a separate plan-review dollar fee is not itemized in the state permit fee rule (fees are the annual permit fees)
Tennessee 0–100 inspection score; report posted prominently and searchable in the state inspection portal.
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile Food Service Establishment Permit
mobile/food-truck units are permitted as food service establishments
the statewide fee rule lists food service establishment ($210 / $360 by seats), temporary ($30), school ($80), farmers market food unit ($300) and auxiliary ($100), but does not itemize a distinct mobile-unit line
Tennessee mobile food units operate from a commissary and are inspected by TDH; where they park may impose local requirements; Temporary event permit is $30
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Williamson County’s permit cost compares
At about $210/year, Williamson County’s restaurant health permit is above the Tennessee median ($100) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 78% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 94th-lowest of 94 Tennessee 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 559 food & drinking establishments serve ~264,460 residents in Williamson County — one per ~473 residents, denser than the Tennessee average (one per ~706).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$210 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.
Watch out for
KEY: Tennessee food service permitting is STATE-administered by TDH in Williamson County (Williamson is not one of TN's ~6 self-administered metro/regional health departments)
Statewide fees set by rule (T.C.A; 68-14-713) effective Jan 1, 2026, per 2025 Public Chapter 400 which shifted fee-setting from statute to rule
$30 (Temporary food service establishment permit); source https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/rules_filings/12-33-25.pdf
Statewide TDH fee (effective Jan 1, 2026 under 2025 Public Chapter 400)
Equipment your Williamson 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.
$210 per year (0-50 seats) / $360 per year (51+ seats); source https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/rules_filings/12-33-25.pdf These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Williamson County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: Tennessee requires plan review for new/extensively remodeled food service establishments, but a separate plan-review dollar fee is not itemized in the state permit fee rule (fees are the annual permit fees); source https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/rules_filings/12-33-25.pdf
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Williamson County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Tennessee mobile food units operate from a commissary and are inspected by TDH; where they park may impose local requirements; Temporary event permit is $30
Who issues food permits in Williamson County?
Food permits here are issued by Tennessee Department of Health, Environmental Health Program (state-administered; Williamson 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.
Published by Resultex Media Group LLC · Independent & vendor-neutral · Educational only, not legal or engineering advice · Last verified September 2026