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13 permits · verified 2026-09-29

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

In short

A restaurant in Etowah County Al, AL has 5 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 8 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. Etowah County Health Department (Alabama Department of Public Health, Northeastern District) charges $100 per event of 14 days or less, fee effective September 1, 2026 (fee code 631; previously $75) for the temporary food service permit (per event of 14 days or less). 6 of the 13 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-09-29 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.

Permits particular to a restaurant in Etowah County Al

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Soft Drink / Coffee Dispensing License (Ala. Code §40-12-69(b))Etowah County Probate Office (Judge of Probate Scott W. Hassell)Combined state and county total under Ala. Code §40-12-69(b), by city population: 25,000 or more $38.50; 15,000 to under 25,000 $31; 5,000 to under 15,000 $23.50; under 5,000 and in unincorporated places $16. Selling only sealed-container soft drinks falls under §40-12-69(a) at $4.75.annual, October 1 to September 30; due October 1, delinquent November 1 with a 15 percent penalty plus interest2026-09-29
Restaurant Business Privilege License (Ala. Code §40-12-151)Etowah County Probate Office (Judge of Probate Scott W. Hassell)Combined state and county total under Ala. Code §40-12-151, by the population tier of the city and by inside seating (10 or fewer seats / 11-20 / 21-35 / over 35). Outside a city, in the tier for 'all other places of 5,000 and under whether incorporated or not': $8.50 / $12.25 / $16 / $23.50. In a city of 15,000 to under 40,000 such as Gadsden (33,945 in the 2020 Census): $12.25 / $19.75 / $38.50 / $53.50. City of 5,000 to under 15,000: $8.50 / $16 / $23.50 / $38.50. City of 40,000 or more: $16 / $23.50 / $46 / $76. These are the statutory base totals from the October 2022 ALDOR Handbook.annual, October 1 to September 30; due October 1, delinquent November 1 with a 15 percent penalty plus interest; a business starting after April 1 pays half2026-09-29
Food Service Establishment Permit (Categories 1-4)Etowah County Health Department (Alabama Department of Public Health, Northeastern District)Effective September 1, 2026, by Priority Category: Category 1 $100; Category 2 $150; Category 3 $500; Category 4 $600. Fees are based on Priority Category rather than annual income, replacing the schedule adopted November 16, 2007.the ADPH fee schedule page does not state a permit term2026-09-29
Temporary Food Service Permit (per event of 14 days or less)only if it applies to youEtowah County Health Department (Alabama Department of Public Health, Northeastern District)$100 per event of 14 days or less, fee effective September 1, 2026 (fee code 631; previously $75)per event, up to 14 days2026-09-29
Commercial Onsite Sewage (Septic) Permitonly if it applies to youEtowah County Health Department (Alabama Department of Public Health, Northeastern District)$300 per application, one-time, for a commercial conventional (code 606) or commercial engineered (code 610) system; an expedited application adds $150 (code 615)one-time, per application2026-09-29
Food Establishment PermitAlabama Department of Public Health, Division of Food, Milk and Lodging$50–$650 a year, set by the county health department, not by the stateannual — expiring when the privilege licenses expire, or on a date the health officer sets2026-09-03
Certified Food Protection Manageronly if it applies to youAlabama Department of Public Health, Division of Food, Milk and LodgingNo fee5 years for a certification; 12 months for attendance without certification2026-09-03

Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.

AL registrations that apply to every type of business

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
State and County Business Privilege Licenseonly if it applies to youAlabama Department of Revenue, Business and License Tax DivisionVaries — formula on the AL pageannual — 1 October to 30 September, delinquent 1 November2026-09-03
Certificate of Formation (LLC)only if it applies to youAlabama Secretary of State, Business Services$200 one-time filingperpetual — Alabama abolished the annual report in 20242026-09-03
Certificate of Incorporationonly if it applies to youAlabama Secretary of State, Business Services$200 one-time filingperpetual — Alabama abolished the annual report in 20242026-09-03
Corporation Annual Report (abolished)only if it applies to youAlabama Secretary of State, Business ServicesNo feenot applicable — the filing no longer exists2026-09-03
Business Privilege Taxonly if it applies to youAlabama Department of Revenue, Sales and Use Tax DivisionVaries — formula on the AL pageannual — due when the matching federal return is due2026-09-03
Sales Tax LicenseAlabama Department of Revenue, Sales and Use Tax DivisionNo feeannual — renew online between 1 November and 31 December2026-09-03

Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.

How much does it actually cost to permit a restaurant in Etowah County Al?

There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 13 records listed for a restaurant in Etowah County Al, AL, 5 apply to every business of this type and 8 are conditional. Adding every fee on the page together would overstate what most operators pay, because it would include permits they never need.

6 of the 13 are charged as a range or a formula set by the issuing agency, and 3 have no fee published at all. The ones particular to this business that vary:

Soft Drink / Coffee Dispensing License (Ala. Code §40-12-69(b)): Combined state and county total under Ala. Code §40-12-69(b), by city population: 25,000 or more $38.50; 15,000 to under 25,000 $31; 5,000 to under 15,000 $23.50; under 5,000 and in unincorporated places $16. Selling only sealed-container soft drinks falls under §40-12-69(a) at $4.75.

Restaurant Business Privilege License (Ala. Code §40-12-151): Combined state and county total under Ala. Code §40-12-151, by the population tier of the city and by inside seating (10 or fewer seats / 11-20 / 21-35 / over 35). Outside a city, in the tier for 'all other places of 5,000 and under whether incorporated or not': $8.50 / $12.25 / $16 / $23.50. In a city of 15,000 to under 40,000 such as Gadsden (33,945 in the 2020 Census): $12.25 / $19.75 / $38.50 / $53.50. City of 5,000 to under 15,000: $8.50 / $16 / $23.50 / $38.50. City of 40,000 or more: $16 / $23.50 / $46 / $76. These are the statutory base totals from the October 2022 ALDOR Handbook.

Food Service Establishment Permit (Categories 1-4): Effective September 1, 2026, by Priority Category: Category 1 $100; Category 2 $150; Category 3 $500; Category 4 $600. Fees are based on Priority Category rather than annual income, replacing the schedule adopted November 16, 2007.

Food Establishment Permit: $50–$650 a year, set by the county health department, not by the state

The other 2 variable fees belong to permits that apply to every type of business here; their formulas are set out on the Etowah County Al permits page and the AL state page.

Which offices issue these permits in Etowah County Al?

Permits for a restaurant in Etowah County Al, AL come from 6 separate offices: Etowah County Probate Office (Judge of Probate Scott W. Hassell), Etowah County Health Department (Alabama Department of Public Health, Northeastern District), Alabama Department of Revenue, Business and License Tax Division, Alabama Secretary of State, Business Services, Alabama Department of Revenue, Sales and Use Tax Division, Alabama Department of Public Health, Division of Food, Milk and Lodging. No single office issues them all, which is why an opening means filing in several places rather than one.

What does a restaurant need in Etowah County Al that other businesses do not?

1 of the 7 permits particular to a restaurant here applies to no other business type we cover in Etowah County Al: Restaurant Business Privilege License (Ala. Code §40-12-151).

Soft Drink / Coffee Dispensing License (Ala. Code §40-12-69(b))

The ALDOR Handbook states that the §40-12-69(b) license is required for sales of coffee, and the Quick Reference Guide lists it as the coffee shop's primary section (with §315, §151 and §153 as add-ons by menu). A restaurant that dispenses soft drinks from taps or dispensers also buys it. The tiers use the last US census population of the city where the business sits; Gadsden (33,945 in 2020) falls in the 25,000-or-more tier at $38.50, and an unincorporated location falls in the under-5,000-and-unincorporated tier at $16. The figures are the statutory base totals from the October 2022 ALDOR Handbook. The county's own pages publish no fee table, so call the Probate Office at (256) 549-5337 for the amount due at purchase.

Restaurant Business Privilege License (Ala. Code §40-12-151)

A restaurant in Etowah County buys its combined state and county license from the Probate Office, 800 Forrest Ave., Suite 122, Gadsden (business-license phone (256) 549-5337; checks payable to the Probate Judge). ALDOR's Quick Reference Guide lists restaurants under §40-12-69 and §40-12-151, and the Handbook requires a Health Department certificate before the §151 license is issued; only inside seating counts toward the seat tiers. The figures shown are the statutory base totals from the October 2022 ALDOR Handbook, with state and county portions printed as one amount. The county's own pages publish no fee table, so call the Probate Office for the amount due at purchase. Businesses inside a municipality also need that city's separate business license; Gadsden runs its own through its Revenue Department.

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 Etowah County Al

  • Food Service Establishment Permit (Categories 1-4) — Etowah County Health Department (Alabama Department of Public Health, Northeastern District), Effective September 1, 2026, by Priority Category: Category 1 $100; Category 2 $150; Category 3 $500; Category 4 $600. Fees are based on Priority Category rather than annual income, replacing the schedule adopted November 16, 2007., the ADPH fee schedule page does not state a permit term. Also required for coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
  • Temporary Food Service Permit (per event of 14 days or less) — Etowah County Health Department (Alabama Department of Public Health, Northeastern District), $100 per event of 14 days or less, fee effective September 1, 2026 (fee code 631; previously $75), per event, up to 14 days. Also required for food trucks; what it involves is set out on the food trucks page.
  • Commercial Onsite Sewage (Septic) Permit — Etowah County Health Department (Alabama Department of Public Health, Northeastern District), $300 per application, one-time, for a commercial conventional (code 606) or commercial engineered (code 610) system; an expedited application adds $150 (code 615), one-time, per application. Also required for coffee shops, retail stores, contractors and trades, auto repair shops, veterinary clinics and salons and barbers; 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.

The 6 state-level registrations apply to every type of business across AL and are covered on the AL state page.

How does a restaurant compare with other businesses in Etowah County Al?

The closest match is a coffee shop, which shares 5 of these permits. A restaurant also needs Restaurant Business Privilege License (Ala. Code §40-12-151) and Temporary Food Service Permit (per event of 14 days or less). A coffee shop needs Sandwich Shop / Stand License (Ala. Code §40-12-153), which a restaurant does not.

Permits particular to each business type in Etowah County Al, AL, compared with a restaurant
BusinessIts own permitsShared with a restaurantOnly a restaurant needsOnly it needs
Coffee shops6521
Food trucks6343
Retail stores3162
Salons and barbers3162
Veterinary clinics3162
Auto repair shops4163
Contractors and trades6165

Sources

Every figure for the permits explained on this page was read from one of these government pages on the date shown. Sources for the permits shared with other businesses are listed with their explanations on the coffee shops page, food trucks page and retail stores page. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the Etowah County Al permits page and the AL state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.

  1. Alabama Department of Revenue — Handbook of Privilege and Store Licenses, October 2022, with the fee schedule for each business typeAlabama Department of Revenue · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
  2. Alabama Department of Revenue Quick Reference Guide (Oct. 2022) — Title 40-12 classification codes by business typeAlabama Department of Revenue · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-28
  3. Etowah County Business License department pageEtowah County Commission · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-29
  4. Etowah County State & County Business License ApplicationEtowah County Probate Office · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-29
  5. Alabama Administrative Code chapter 420-3-22 — food establishment sanitation, permits issued by the county health officerAlabama Department of Public Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03

Related

Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.