What permits do you need to open a restaurant in Elmore County Al?

Food Service Establishment Permit (Elmore County Health Department)

A restaurant or coffee shop serving food in Elmore County needs this permit from the Elmore County Health Department's Environmental Division, 6501 US Hwy 231, Wetumpka. The published annual fee is $75.00 for 0-25 seats, $150.00 for 26-75 seats and $225.00 for over 75 seats. Elmore's fee schedule is set by the county Board of Health under Ala. Code §45-26-170 and is its own document: the schedule that takes effect September 1, 2026 belongs to Etowah County and does not apply here. Under ADPH rule 420-3-22-.10, an establishment serving only coffee in single-service cups, with single-service stirrers and non-perishable condiments, needs no permit or inspections. The permit is non-transferable, and plans must be submitted for review before construction, remodeling or conversion. The Elmore County Health Department publishes no effective date for its fee schedule.

County Business Privilege License — Restaurant, Cafe, Cafeteria (Sec. 151)

A restaurant, cafe or cafeteria in Elmore County owes this license per location, issued by the Revenue Commissioner's License Division in Wetumpka. The amounts below are the combined state and county license amount, before the $1 state issuance fee. Unincorporated areas and places of 5,000 or under: $7.50 for 10 seats or fewer, $11.25 for 11-20, $15.00 for 21-35, $22.50 for over 35. Places of 5,001-14,999: $7.50, $15.00, $22.50, $37.50. Places of 15,000-40,000: $11.25, $18.75, $37.50, $52.50. Places over 40,000: $15.00, $22.50, $45.00, $75.00. The tier follows the nearest incorporated city's population. The ALDOR Handbook requires a Health Department certificate before the license is issued, counts only inside seats as of October 1, and treats fast food as a restaurant. The license stacks with any municipal business license.

County Business Privilege License — Sandwich Shop, Barbecue Stand or Delicatessen (Sec. 153 / Sec. 91)

A food business with a limited menu may fall under a lower-priced classification than the restaurant license. Under the ALDOR Handbook interpretations, the Sec. 153 sandwich shop and barbecue stand license ($7.50 combined state and county amount) covers sandwiches and prepackaged sides only. A business that sells prepared sides with no seating is a delicatessen under Sec. 91 ($15.00), and one with seating is a restaurant under Sec. 151, recorded separately for Elmore County. Each figure is the combined state and county license amount from the Alabama Department of Revenue's FY2026 Elmore County report and the Handbook, plus a $1 state issuance fee, and the license is issued by the Elmore County Revenue Commissioner's License Division in Wetumpka. The license stacks with any municipal business license.

Food Establishment Plan Review (Elmore County Health Department)

A restaurant or coffee shop building, remodeling or converting a space for food service in Elmore County must submit plans to the Elmore County Health Department's Environmental Division, 6501 US Hwy 231, Wetumpka, before work starts. The published one-time plan review fee is $50.00 for a small plan and $100.00 for a large plan. The fee schedule does not define where small ends and large begins, so ask the Environmental Division which fee applies to a given project. The fee schedule is the county Board of Health's own, set under Ala. Code §45-26-170, and carries no published effective date. The ADPH Elmore food page states that plans must be submitted before construction, remodeling or conversion.

Certified Food Protection Manager

No state fee, because Alabama neither examines nor registers anyone — the certificate comes from an accredited private programme at that programme's price. Two limits define who actually needs it. It applies only to priority category 3 and 4 establishments, broadly those handling raw animal foods, cooking to reduce pathogens, or cooling and reheating, plus anyone operating under a variance or a food safety plan; categories 1 and 2 and temporary establishments are exempt. And within those categories it is a hard requirement rather than one option among several, because Alabama expressly declines to adopt the two federal food code paragraphs that would otherwise let a person in charge demonstrate knowledge by other means. Since 2020 a certified or attendance-verified person in charge must be present during all hours of operation. There is no statewide food handler card — the phrase appears nowhere in the rules — though Jefferson and Mobile counties each issue one locally.

Shared with other businesses in Elmore County Al

• Temporary Food Service Permit (Elmore County Health Department) — Elmore County Health Department, Environmental Division (ADPH East Central District), $30 per permit, one-time (Elmore County Health Department fee schedule line 631, Temporary Food Service), per event. Also required for food trucks and coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the food trucks page.
• Alcohol License Local Approval (Elmore County Commission) — Wet County — Elmore County Commission, No fee, per application; the underlying license comes from the Alabama ABC Board on its own renewal cycle. Also required for retail stores; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
• Food Establishment Permit — Alabama Department of Public Health, Division of Food, Milk and Lodging, $50–$650 a year, set by the county health department, not by the state, annual — expiring when the privilege licenses expire, or on a date the health officer sets. Also required for coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the food trucks page.