Restaurants, commercial kitchens, and food trucks.
York County food-facility health permits run about $100 annually. Plan review runs about $100. Confirm the exact amount with South Carolina Department of Agriculture - Retail Food Safety & Compliance (statewide; assumed retail food regulation from DHEC on 7/1/2024) 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 South Carolina Department of Agriculture - Retail Food Safety & Compliance (statewide; assumed retail food regulation from DHEC on 7/1/2024) issues the health permit.
About 506 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 298,320. (U.S. Census 2023 estimate; County Business Patterns 2022, NAICS 722)
Statewide fee schedule under Regulation 61-25 (S.C; Code Regs; 61-25.8-304); Annual inspection fee is billed each year; gross food sales exclude alcohol and general merchandise; Late penalties: +$50 (30-59 days past due), +$100 (60+ days)
A grade decal (A >87 pts, B 78-87, C <78) is posted at the main entrance with a QR code linking to the SC Food Grades online inspection reports.
A mobile food establishment consists of a commissary plus mobile unit(s)/pushcart(s); each is permitted separately and each pays the RFE fee schedule
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
Comparison uses the lowest published annual restaurant-permit figure in each county; confirm your exact tier with the department.
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Plus building, fire, and business-license fees that vary locally — use the cost calculators and the checklist below to budget the full stack.
| Category | Annual fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Grocery / market with deli | $100.00 initial permit fee plus annual inspection fee by gross food sales ($100.00 minimum; same statewide RFE bracket schedule) | Grocery/convenience stores that prepare or package food on-site are Retail Food Establishments under SCDA; annual fee based on gross food sales (excludes alcohol and general merchandise) |
| Bakery / food processing | $100.00 initial permit fee plus annual inspection fee by gross food sales (same statewide RFE bracket schedule) | Establishments that bottle, can, bake, or package food for direct retail sale pay based on gross sales of the packaged/prepared product |
| Commissary / central preparation kitchen | $100.00 initial permit fee plus annual inspection fee by gross food sales (same statewide RFE bracket schedule) | A commissary is a permitted retail food establishment; permitted separately from the mobile units it supports |
| Pushcart / mobile vending | $100.00 initial permit fee plus annual inspection fee by gross food sales (same statewide RFE bracket schedule) | Mobile food units and pushcarts are each permitted separately from the commissary under Regulation 61-25 Chapter 9-1 |
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.
Permit costs and rules change at the county line — compare York County with its neighbors.
This is a typical sequence — confirm the exact sequence with your authority having jurisdiction.
Official plan-check requirements: plan-check guide →