What business licenses and permits do you need to open and run a restaurant?

You’ve been working tirelessly on your new restaurant’s launch for months—and have possibly even been dreaming about it for years. Finally, everything is coming together: the executive and sous chefs are selected, the menu is crafted, and contractors are putting the finishing touches on the space. It’s understandable that in the hustle and bustle, a few of the more seemingly mundane business items — such as license and permit applications — could be pushed further down on the priority list.

Resale permit and seller’s permit

Will your restaurant operate in a state that taxes sales? If the answer is “yes”, you will need to get a resale permit and a seller’s permit from a state agency.

The resale permit prevents double sales taxation on certain items. It allows your establishment to purchase specific items without tax — for instance, wholesale food inventory — as long as you are using the items to create products intended for resale. In the case of your restaurant, those resale products will be your prepared entrées. The seller’s permit is what allows your restaurant to charge and collect sales tax from your patrons.

Health permit

In nearly every restaurant, you can find a paper displayed on the wall denoting a certain grade — such as an “A” or a “98%”. These grades are assigned by each restaurant’s local health department as part of the health permit process. Every new restaurant must obtain a health permit from its city or county health department.

Permitting requirements vary by municipality, however. The typical permitting process requires plan review prior to the beginning of construction, as well as submittal of a menu, list of equipment to be used on-site and a food safety plan.

To maintain your permit, your restaurant will be subject to periodic inspections by the health department. Officials will check in from time to time to see whether you and your staff are complying with standard food management practices and keeping your facilities in tip-top shape. They may assign a letter or numerical grade based on your restaurant’s cleanliness, which you must then post in a conspicuous area of your restaurant. Failing these inspections could lead to a fine and potentially a loss of your restaurant’s health permit and ability to operate.

Food handling and safety permit

Sometimes called an employee health permit, this certification proves that you — the owner — and your staff has completed all the requisite food safety, storage, prep, and sanitation training required by the state.

A food handling and safety permit is often mandatory for anyone who is storing, preparing, packaging, serving, or providing food for human consumption. Owners and managers are generally required to obtain food handling permits. Depending on your state, this may include dishwashers, servers, and bartenders.

Permitting is generally handled by local health departments, though some states may have additional licensing requirements for food handling and safety at the state level.

Building license or permit

A building license is required for any restaurant in order to verify the location’s operational safety. This can include clearly marked and working fire extinguishers, fire escapes, and emergency exits. You may also need to obtain an occupancy license, which is often issued by the local fire commissioner. 

Signage permit

Before hanging up the attractive new sign announcing your establishment, contact your local city or county officials to determine whether a sign permit is required. To protect the character and safety of the local community, your government may have certain restrictions on the type of sign and its size, location, and lighting.

Music license

Unfortunately, you're technically not allowed to just plug in your phone to play music in your restaurant. If the music you want to play is copyrighted — even if you have purchased the albums or paid for the streaming service — you still must obtain a music license.

If a restaurant intends on playing music, live or recorded, proper licenses must be obtained from a performing rights organization in order to be compliant with federal laws and to avoid costly penalties.

In addition, restaurants that allow dancing may be required to apply for an additional license, often called a cabaret license. The cabaret license is issued by the local government.

Additional local permits for restaurants

Depending on the local and state regulations for your restaurant, you may also need to obtain the following:

• Zoning permit
• Land use permit
• Certificate of occupancy
• Place of assembly permit
• Certificate of inspection
• Catering license
• Site cleanliness permit
• O.G. (Fats, Oil and Grease) permit
• Dumpster placement permit
• Sidewalk café permit
• Alarm permit
• Fire and police department permit
• Valet parking permit
• Live entertainment license
• Pool table license

Maintenance of restaurant licenses and permits

Of course, once you have obtained all the necessary licenses, your responsibilities do not end there. In addition to keeping up with the renewal of existing licenses and permits, your business may also experience changes — such as moving to a new location in town or changing its corporate structure — which could require new or amended licenses. Or, your state or local government could introduce new business requirements. Be sure to appoint someone to keep track of all renewals and events that trigger license amendments so that your restaurant can remain compliant.

Consequences of operating without necessary licenses and permits

Restaurant businesses operating without the appropriate permits or with an expired permit are subject to both state and local penalties. Penalties range from fines, cease and desist orders, and even criminal penalties, such as jail time and probation. Many cities, counties, and state health departments have partnered with third-party agencies for enforcement of business licensing compliance while also utilizing onsite food and health safety inspections to confirm licensing compliance. With such severe penalties, it is crucial that restaurant businesses obtain and maintain the appropriate licenses.

Contact CT Corporation’s business license team for more information about how we can help you navigate restaurant licensing requirements.