Opening a Restaurant

Licensing a Restaurant 

Restaurants are a stationary site (no wheels) where food is prepped, sold, and/or dispensed on-site for the general public. Restaurants can include hospital cafeterias, coffee shops, bars, diners, etc. A “Limited Service Restaurant” is a restaurant serving only individually portioned prepackaged foods prepared from an approved source by a commercial processor and nonperishable beverages. A license is required.

If you’re not sure if this is the correct type of license, please click here: What kind of license do I need?

Restaurant fees are based on the number of seats in the establishment (see fee list). License application packets must be submitted prior to remodeling, new construction, or a change in ownership.

Licenses are NON-TRANSFERRABLE, and you must pay the licensing fee prior to operating the facility. If you are a new owner to an already operating food facility and do not plan on remodeling, please fill out the Change of Owner Application Packet. If you are planning on remodeling, constructing a new facility, or if the facility has been closed for 6 months or more, fill out the Complete Restaurant Packet.

A facility that has been closed for 6 consecutive months or more must come into compliance with current rules and regulations prior to re-opening.

Helpful Documents

Food Sanitation Rules

Air Gap
Animals on the Premises
Cooling Log
Cooling Methods
Cross Contamination
Date Marking
Hot and Cold Food Temperatures
Labeling Requirements
Power Outage Info
Service Animals – ADA Requirements
Service Animals – FAQs
Temperature Log 1
Temperature Log 2
Time as a Public Health Control

Spanish Information (Información en Español)

Food Sanitation Rules (Código de Alimento)

Cross Contamination (Contaminación cruzada)
Consumer Advisory (Advertencia para el consumidor)
Date Marking (Marcar los alimentos con la fecha)
Employee Illness Policy (Norma de Enfermedad para el Empleado)
Power Outage Info (Información de Apagón)
Temperature Log (Registro de temperatura)