Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Food, Pools & Lodging Services (Wright County is licensed directly by MDH - NOT a delegated agency) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Wright County food-facility health permits run about $185–$970 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Confirm the exact amount with Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Food, Pools & Lodging Services (Wright County is licensed directly by MDH - NOT a delegated agency) 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 Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Food, Pools & Lodging Services (Wright County is licensed directly by MDH - NOT a delegated agency) issues the health permit.
About 212 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 151,150. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 & Beverage Service Establishment License (MDH)
Plus a $50.00 statewide hospitality fee and a $5.00 technology fee per licensed activity
(MN Stat 157.16, amended 2025.)
MDH licenses restaurants/food service directly in Wright County (confirmed 'Wright County; MDH' in MDH contacts list); Grocery/retail markets are licensed separately by the MN Dept of Agriculture (MDA); Additional food service location +$250; HACCP verification +$225
Plan review — required
Plan review approval is required before an MDH license is issued (per MN Stat 157.16 subd 1)
MDH'
s FPLS plan-review fee schedule applies but the specific dollar amount was not captured
MDH/MDA (and delegated programs) inspect under the Minnesota Food Code; no letter grade or score. Minnesota generally does not post results online — reports available on request.
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile Food Unit / Food Cart License (MDH)
$450.00 = $300.00 base fee + $150.00 (food cart / mobile food unit / seasonal stand category, MN Stat 157.16(d)(4))
plus $50.00 statewide hospitality fee and $5.00 technology fee
Statewide statutory fee set by MN Stat 157.16; collected by MDH for Wright County; $100 penalty for operating a mobile unit without a license (up to 30 days)
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Wright County’s permit cost compares
At about $185/year, Wright County’s restaurant health permit is above the Minnesota median ($50) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 69% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 74th-lowest of 81 Minnesota 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 212 food & drinking establishments serve ~151,150 residents in Wright County — one per ~713 residents, sparser than the Minnesota average (one per ~519).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$185 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
Wright County is NOT a delegated agency; the Minnesota Dept of Health licenses food/restaurants directly (verified in MDH's State & Local FPL Contacts)
Minnesota food/beverage license fees are set statewide by statute (MN Stat 157.16), so the amounts are identical whether MDH or a delegated agency collects them
Jurisdiction split: MDH = restaurants/food service; MN Dept of Agriculture = grocery/retail markets/food processing
Every establishment also pays a $50 statewide hospitality fee and a $5 technology fee annually per licensed activity
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
Caterer
Licensed as a food & beverage service establishment: $300.00 base + risk category (Cat 1 $185 / Cat 2 $430 / Cat 3 $670) + $50 hospitality + $5 technology; (MN Stat 157.16, MDH.)
Catering treated as food service by MDH
Bar / limited food service
$485.00 total ($300 base + Category 1 low-risk $185) + $50 hospitality + $5 technology, per MN Stat 157.16
Higher category applies if TCS food prep is involved
Grocery / market with deli
Grocery stores and retail markets are licensed by the MN Dept of Agriculture (MDA), not MDH / Wright County
MN split: MDH = restaurants/food service; MDA = grocery/retail markets
Temporary / seasonal event
$75.00 flat (special event food stand); seasonal temporary or seasonal permanent food stand $150.00 category + $300 base, per MN Stat 157.16
Special event stands are exempt from the base fee and plan review
Pushcart / mobile vending
$450.00 ($300 base + $150 food cart/mobile food unit category) + $50 hospitality + $5 technology, per MN Stat 157.16
$100 penalty for operating a mobile unit without a license (up to 30 days)
Equipment your Wright 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.
Annual = $300.00 base fee + risk category: Category 1/low-risk +$185.00 (total $485.00); Category 2/medium-risk +$430.00 (total $730.00); Category 3/high-risk +$670.00 (total $970.00); Plus a $50.00 statewide hospitality fee and a $5.00 technology fee per licensed activity; (MN Stat 157.16, amended 2025.) These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Wright County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: Plan review approval is required before an MDH license is issued (per MN Stat 157.16 subd 1); MDH's FPLS plan-review fee schedule applies but the specific dollar amount was not captured
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Wright County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Statewide statutory fee set by MN Stat 157.16; collected by MDH for Wright County; $100 penalty for operating a mobile unit without a license (up to 30 days)
Who issues food permits in Wright County?
Food permits here are issued by Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Food, Pools & Lodging Services (Wright County is licensed directly by MDH - NOT a delegated agency). 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