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

Restaurant Business Privilege License (Title 40-12, §151)

A restaurant in Lauderdale County buys this license from the County License Commissioner, 102 S. Court St., Florence, phone 256-760-5745, not from the Probate Judge. The amount depends on seats and location. Section 151 puts every place of 5,000 and under in its lowest tier 'whether incorporated or not', so a restaurant in unincorporated Lauderdale County or in Killen, Rogersville, Waterloo, Anderson, Lexington or St. Florian pays $8.50, $12.25, $16 or $23.50 by seat band, while a restaurant inside Florence pays $16, $23.50, $46 or $76. Outside tables and benches are not counted as seats. The figures are combined state and county totals and already include the $1 issuance fee. A Health Department certificate is required before the license is issued, and the cities stack their own license on top.

Delicatessen / Off-Premises Food Privilege License (Title 40-12, §91)

A delicatessen or a business selling prepared food off-premises, including a food truck, buys the section 91 license from the Lauderdale County License Commissioner for $16 a year, a combined state and county total that already includes the $1 issuance fee. The ALDOR Quick Reference Guide also points food trucks to an authorization letter and a copy of the commissary's ADPH food permit. The county's business-license application lists a copy of the county Health Department permit as required documentation for delicatessens. Sandwich shops use the separate section 153 license, and any city business license is additional.

Alcoholic Beverage Sales — Dry County with Five Wet Cities

No fee applies at the county level. The Alabama ABC Board lists the county as Dry - Contains Wet Cities, and Ala. Code §45-39-20 makes it unlawful to sell or offer to sell any alcoholic beverage in Lauderdale County except within an incorporated municipality. The wet cities on the ABC Board's table are Rogersville, Florence, St. Florian, Lexington and Killen. Anderson and Waterloo are incorporated but are not on that list, and alcohol sales are not lawful in unincorporated Lauderdale County. A restaurant, coffee shop or store inside a wet city applies through the city and the ABC Board; Florence, for example, requires its own alcohol application and approval before its license.

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 Lauderdale County Al

• Food Service Health Permit (Lauderdale County Health Department) — Lauderdale County Health Department (Alabama Department of Public Health), No fee, annual. Also required for coffee shops, food trucks and childcare centres; what it involves is set out on the childcare centres page.
• Sandwich Shop / Barbecue / Hot Dog Stand Privilege License (Title 40-12, §153) — Lauderdale County License Commissioner, $8.50 a year, combined state+county total (October 2022 ALDOR Handbook, §40-12-153), annual; the license year runs October 1 to September 30, renewal is due October 1-31, and a 15 percent penalty plus interest applies to renewals after October 31. Also required for coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the food trucks 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.