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13 permits · verified 2026-09-28

What permits do you need to open a coffee shop in Montgomery County Al?

In short

A coffee shop in Montgomery 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. Alabama Secretary of State, Business Services charges $200 one-time filing for the certificate of formation (llc). 7 of the 13 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-09-28 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.

Permits particular to a coffee shop in Montgomery County Al

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
MCHD Food Service Establishment PermitMontgomery County Health Department / Montgomery County Board of Health, Environmental Health Division$85–$265 a year, by seating capacity — 0 to 25 seats $85 (code 668), 26 to 75 seats $175 (code 670), more than 75 seats $265 (code 672); MCHD Environmental Health Division Fee Scheduleannual2026-09-28
General County Privilege License — Coffee Shops / Soft-Drink DispensersMontgomery County Probate Court, Licenses Division$4.75–$38.50 a year, combined state+county total (Ala. Code §40-12-69) — $4.75 total flat if selling only sealed, bottled or canned drinks (§40-12-69(a)); up to $37.50 + $1 = $38.50 total in the highest, 25,000-plus population tier, which applies near Montgomery, if dispensing drinks via tap or dispenser (§40-12-69(b))annual; due October 1, delinquent November 1 (§40-12-26); 15% delinquency penalty plus 6% annual interest (§40-12-10(e))2026-09-28
General County Privilege License — Restaurant / Food-Service ClassificationMontgomery County Probate Court, Licenses DivisionThe specific Title 40-12 classification and combined state+county fee depend on the business's exact menu and seating: Delicatessen (§40-12-91), Restaurant (§40-12-151), or Sandwich Shop (§40-12-153) are the classifications the ALDOR Handbook cross-references for prepared-food sales; the Probate Court, Licenses Division determines the applicable classification for a specific businessannual; due October 1, delinquent November 1 (§40-12-26); 15% delinquency penalty plus 6% annual interest (§40-12-10(e))2026-09-28
Alcoholic Beverage License (state ABC Board; Montgomery County is Wet)only if it applies to youMontgomery County Commission (county governing body)No feenot applicable at the county level2026-09-28
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.

Local permits that apply to every type of business in Montgomery County Al

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Building Permit — Unincorporated Montgomery Countyonly if it applies to youMontgomery County Engineering DepartmentVaries — formula on the Montgomery County Al pageone-time, per permit2026-09-28

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 coffee shop in Montgomery 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 coffee shop in Montgomery 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.

7 of the 13 are charged as a range or a formula set by the issuing agency, and 4 have no fee published at all. The ones particular to this business that vary:

MCHD Food Service Establishment Permit: $85–$265 a year, by seating capacity — 0 to 25 seats $85 (code 668), 26 to 75 seats $175 (code 670), more than 75 seats $265 (code 672); MCHD Environmental Health Division Fee Schedule

General County Privilege License — Coffee Shops / Soft-Drink Dispensers: $4.75–$38.50 a year, combined state+county total (Ala. Code §40-12-69) — $4.75 total flat if selling only sealed, bottled or canned drinks (§40-12-69(a)); up to $37.50 + $1 = $38.50 total in the highest, 25,000-plus population tier, which applies near Montgomery, if dispensing drinks via tap or dispenser (§40-12-69(b))

General County Privilege License — Restaurant / Food-Service Classification: The specific Title 40-12 classification and combined state+county fee depend on the business's exact menu and seating: Delicatessen (§40-12-91), Restaurant (§40-12-151), or Sandwich Shop (§40-12-153) are the classifications the ALDOR Handbook cross-references for prepared-food sales; the Probate Court, Licenses Division determines the applicable classification for a specific business

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

The other 3 variable fees belong to permits that apply to every type of business here; their formulas are set out on the Montgomery County Al permits page and the AL state page.

Which offices issue these permits in Montgomery County Al?

Permits for a coffee shop in Montgomery County Al, AL come from 8 separate offices: Montgomery County Health Department / Montgomery County Board of Health, Environmental Health Division, Montgomery County Engineering Department, Montgomery County Probate Court, Licenses Division, Montgomery County Commission (county governing body), 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 coffee shop need in Montgomery County Al that other businesses do not?

1 of the 6 permits particular to a coffee shop here applies to no other business type we cover in Montgomery County Al: General County Privilege License — Coffee Shops / Soft-Drink Dispensers.

MCHD Food Service Establishment Permit

Every restaurant and coffee shop preparing and serving food to the public in Montgomery County needs this annual permit from the Montgomery County Health Department (MCHD), Environmental Health Division, before operation. The fee tiers by seating capacity under MCHD's own Environmental Health Division Fee Schedule: $85 for 0 to 25 seats, $175 for 26 to 75 seats, and $265 for more than 75 seats. That fee schedule is printed 'Effective Date July 1, 2004,' and it is the schedule MCHD currently publishes on its own website. A late-renewal penalty of $40 and a $30 returned-check fee apply under the same schedule. This permit is separate from, and in addition to, the county general privilege license recorded as a separate requirement.

General County Privilege License — Coffee Shops / Soft-Drink Dispensers

A coffee shop in Montgomery County owes this Title 40-12 classification license — the ALDOR Handbook's own interpretation notes state this section 'is required for sales of coffee.' A shop selling only sealed, bottled or canned drinks owes a flat $4.75 total; a shop dispensing drinks via a tap or dispenser owes the tiered §40-12-69(b) fee, which reaches $38.50 total in the highest population tier (25,000 or more), the tier applicable near Montgomery since the state capital is the dominant nearby city for most of the county. If the coffee shop also serves prepared food, the relevant food classification (Delicatessen §40-12-91, Restaurant §40-12-151, or Sandwich Shop §40-12-153, depending on menu and seating) applies on top of this one, per the ALDOR Handbook's own cross-reference notes — see the restaurant/food-classification requirement. Collected through the Probate Court's Title 40-12 process.

Shared with other businesses in Montgomery County Al

  • General County Privilege License — Restaurant / Food-Service Classification — Montgomery County Probate Court, Licenses Division, The specific Title 40-12 classification and combined state+county fee depend on the business's exact menu and seating: Delicatessen (§40-12-91), Restaurant (§40-12-151), or Sandwich Shop (§40-12-153) are the classifications the ALDOR Handbook cross-references for prepared-food sales; the Probate Court, Licenses Division determines the applicable classification for a specific business, annual; due October 1, delinquent November 1 (§40-12-26); 15% delinquency penalty plus 6% annual interest (§40-12-10(e)). Also required for restaurants; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.
  • Alcoholic Beverage License (state ABC Board; Montgomery County is Wet) — Montgomery County Commission (county governing body), No fee, not applicable at the county level. Also required for restaurants and 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 restaurants and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the food trucks page.
  • Certified Food Protection Manager — Alabama Department of Public Health, Division of Food, Milk and Lodging, No fee, 5 years for a certification; 12 months for attendance without certification. Also required for restaurants and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.

The other 1 local permit in the tables apply to every type of business in Montgomery County Al, AL; what each one involves is set out on the Montgomery County Al permits 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 coffee shop compare with other businesses in Montgomery County Al?

The closest match is a restaurant, which shares 5 of these permits. A coffee shop also needs General County Privilege License — Coffee Shops / Soft-Drink Dispensers. A restaurant needs nothing here that a coffee shop does not.

Permits particular to each business type in Montgomery County Al, AL, compared with a coffee shop
BusinessIts own permitsShared with a coffee shopOnly a coffee shop needsOnly it needs
Restaurants5510
Food trucks3241
Retail stores4153
Auto repair shops4064
Childcare centres2062
Contractors and trades3063
Fitness studios2062
Salons and barbers3063
Veterinary clinics3063

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 restaurants page, retail stores page and food trucks page. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the Montgomery County Al permits page and the AL state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.

  1. MCHD Environmental Health Division Fee Schedule (printed effective date July 1, 2004; confirmed unchanged via Wayback Machine CDX snapshots, Aug 2024-Nov 2025)Alabama Department of Public Health, Montgomery County · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-28
  2. Food Establishment Sanitation program pageAlabama Department of Public Health, Montgomery County · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-28
  3. 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
  4. Montgomery County Probate Court — Business Licenses pageMontgomery County Probate Court · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-28

Related

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