9 permits · verified 2026-10-23
What permits do you need to open a restaurant in Craighead County?
In short
A restaurant in Craighead County, AR has 2 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 7 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. Craighead County Floodplain Administrator (County Judge or designee; Floodplain Manager) charges $25 application fee per floodplain development permit application, paid to the Floodplain Administrator in cash or check (per the county's Application 2024 and Permit Application Instructions 2024) for the floodplain development permit and certificate of compliance (special flood hazard areas, unincorporated craighead county). 2 of the 9 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-10-23 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.
Permits particular to a restaurant in Craighead County
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certified Food Protection Manageronly if it applies to you | Arkansas Department of Health, Food Protection Program | No fee | 5 years | 2026-09-04 |
| Food Service Establishment Permit | Arkansas Department of Health, Food Protection Program | $35 a year; multiple permit types at one address are capped at $105 total | annual, not transferable | 2026-09-04 |
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 Craighead County
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floodplain Development Permit and Certificate of Compliance (Special Flood Hazard Areas, unincorporated Craighead County)only if it applies to you | Craighead County Floodplain Administrator (County Judge or designee; Floodplain Manager) | $25 application fee per floodplain development permit application, paid to the Floodplain Administrator in cash or check (per the county's Application 2024 and Permit Application Instructions 2024) | "The permit will expire if no work is commenced within 6 months of the date of issue." | 2026-10-23 |
| E-911 Address or Building Number before Construction and Occupancy (unincorporated Craighead County)only if it applies to you | Craighead County Road Department (E-911 Addressing Coordinator) | Varies — formula on the Craighead County page | One-time, before construction begins and before the building is occupied | 2026-10-23 |
Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.
AR registrations that apply to every type of business
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Articles of Incorporationonly if it applies to you | Arkansas Secretary of State, Business and Commercial Services Division | $45 filed online; $50 on paper | perpetual, but a franchise tax report is due every year | 2026-09-04 |
| Annual Franchise Tax Reportonly if it applies to you | Arkansas Secretary of State, Business and Commercial Services Division | Varies — formula on the AR page | annual — due 1 May | 2026-09-04 |
| Certificate of Organization (LLC)only if it applies to you | Arkansas Secretary of State, Business and Commercial Services Division | $45 filed online; $50 on paper | perpetual, but a franchise tax report is due every year | 2026-09-04 |
| Sales Tax Permit | Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration | $50 one-time, non-refundable | no stated expiration — a permit with twelve straight months of zero sales may be administratively closed | 2026-09-04 |
| General Business License — Arkansas Secretary of State Guidanceonly if it applies to you | Arkansas Secretary of State, Business and Commercial Services Division | No fee | not applicable | 2026-09-04 |
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 Craighead County?
There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 9 records listed for a restaurant in Craighead County, AR, 2 apply to every business of this type and 7 are conditional. Adding every fee on the page together would overstate what most operators pay, because it would include permits they never need.
Of the 2 that always apply, 2 carry a flat fee, coming to $85.00. That is a floor, not a total. 2 of the 9 are charged as a range or a formula set by the issuing agency, and 2 have no fee published at all.
The other 2 variable fees belong to permits that apply to every type of business here; their formulas are set out on the Craighead County permits page and the AR state page.
Which offices issue these permits in Craighead County?
Permits for a restaurant in Craighead County, AR come from 5 separate offices: Craighead County Floodplain Administrator (County Judge or designee; Floodplain Manager), Craighead County Road Department (E-911 Addressing Coordinator), Arkansas Secretary of State, Business and Commercial Services Division, Arkansas Department of Health, Food Protection Program, Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. No single office issues them all, which is why an opening means filing in several places rather than one.
- Craighead County Floodplain Administrator (County Judge or designee; Floodplain Manager)Issues 1 permit on this page: Floodplain Development Permit and Certificate of Compliance (Special Flood Hazard Areas, unincorporated Craighead County)Craighead County Annex, 511 Union, Room 5, Jonesboro, AR 72401 · 870-933-4575craigheadcountyar.gov/oem/floodplain
- Craighead County Road Department (E-911 Addressing Coordinator)Issues 1 permit on this page: E-911 Address or Building Number before Construction and Occupancy (unincorporated Craighead County)2800 Moore Rd., Jonesboro, AR 72401 · 870-933-4510craigheadcountyar.gov/government/departments/road-department
- Arkansas Secretary of State, Business and Commercial Services DivisionIssues 4 permits on this page: Articles of Incorporation, Annual Franchise Tax Report, Certificate of Organization (LLC), General Business License — Arkansas Secretary of State Guidance1401 West Capitol Avenue, Suite 250, Little Rock, AR 72201 · (888) 233-0325www.sos.arkansas.gov/business-commercial-services-bcs
- Arkansas Department of Health, Food Protection ProgramIssues 2 permits on this page: Certified Food Protection Manager, Food Service Establishment Permit4815 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205 · (501) 661-2171healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/public-health-safety/food-protection-inspection-portal
- Arkansas Department of Finance and AdministrationIssues 1 permit on this page: Sales Tax Permit1816 West 7th Street, Little Rock, AR 72201 · (501) 682-7104www.dfa.arkansas.gov/office/taxes/excise-tax-administration/sales-use-tax
What does a restaurant need in Craighead County that other businesses do not?
Shared with other businesses in Craighead County
- Certified Food Protection Manager — Arkansas Department of Health, Food Protection Program, No fee, 5 years. Also required for coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
- Food Service Establishment Permit — Arkansas Department of Health, Food Protection Program, $35 a year; multiple permit types at one address are capped at $105 total, annual, not transferable. Also required for coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
The other 2 local permits in the tables apply to every type of business in Craighead County, AR; what each one involves is set out on the Craighead County permits page. The 5 state-level registrations apply to every type of business across AR and are covered on the AR state page.
How does a restaurant compare with other businesses in Craighead County?
A restaurant and a coffee shop in Craighead County, AR need exactly the same 2 permits beyond the ones every business needs.
| Business | Its own permits | Shared with a restaurant | Only a restaurant needs | Only it needs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee shops | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Auto repair shops | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Childcare centres | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Contractors and trades | 6 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| Fitness studios | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Retail stores | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Salons and barbers | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Veterinary clinics | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
Sources
Sources for the permits shared with other businesses are listed with their explanations on the coffee shops page. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the Craighead County permits page and the AR state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.
Related
Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.