16 permits · verified 2026-10-05
What permits do you need to open a restaurant in Yuma County Az?
In short
A restaurant in Yuma County Az, AZ has 4 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 12 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. Arizona Corporation Commission, Corporations Division charges $45 a year for a corporation; $10 for a nonprofit — an LLC files none for the annual report. 2 of the 16 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-10-05 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.
Permits particular to a restaurant in Yuma County Az
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liquor License Application: County Recommendation (Premises Outside Incorporated Cities)only if it applies to you | Yuma County Board of Supervisors | No fee | not applicable at the county level; the state liquor license runs on its own renewal cycle | 2026-10-05 |
| Zoning Use Table: C-2 General Commercialonly if it applies to you | Yuma County Department of Development Services | No fee | no term is stated in the zoning ordinance text | 2026-10-05 |
| Special Use Permit (Commercial and Industrial Uses)only if it applies to you | Yuma County Department of Development Services | No fee | no term is stated in the zoning ordinance text | 2026-10-05 |
| Encroachment Permit (Work in County Right-of-Way)only if it applies to you | Yuma County Department of Development Services | No fee | per permit; the posted schedule states no term | 2026-10-05 |
| Zoning Use Table: C-1 Local Commercialonly if it applies to you | Yuma County Department of Development Services | No fee | no term is stated in the zoning ordinance text | 2026-10-05 |
| Zoning Use Table: Residential Commercial (RC)only if it applies to you | Yuma County Department of Development Services | No fee | no term is stated in the zoning ordinance text | 2026-10-05 |
| Food Establishment Permit | Arizona Department of Health Services | $144–$1,015 a year, set by the county board of health — there is no state fee | 1 year from issue | 2026-09-03 |
| Food Handler Cardonly if it applies to you | Arizona Department of Health Services | No fee | 3 years in the counties that require one | 2026-09-03 |
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 Yuma County Az
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zoning Use Approval (Building Permit Trigger for Change of Use) | Yuma County Department of Development Services | No fee | no term is stated in the zoning ordinance text | 2026-10-05 |
| Commercial Sewage Disposal (On-Site Septic) Permit and Plan Reviewonly if it applies to you | Yuma County Department of Development Services | No fee | per permit; the posted schedule states no term | 2026-10-05 |
| Building Permit (Construction Over $1,000) and Contractor Privilege-Tax License (Over $10,000) | Yuma County Department of Development Services | No fee | one-time per building permit; no renewal term is stated in the zoning ordinance text | 2026-10-05 |
Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.
AZ registrations that apply to every type of business
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Reportonly if it applies to you | Arizona Corporation Commission, Corporations Division | $45 a year for a corporation; $10 for a nonprofit — an LLC files none | annual, in the corporation's anniversary month on a date the Commission sets | 2026-09-03 |
| Publication of the Formation Noticeonly if it applies to you | Arizona Corporation Commission, Corporations Division | No fee | within 60 days of approval, in three consecutive publications | 2026-09-03 |
| Articles of Organization (LLC)only if it applies to you | Arizona Corporation Commission, Corporations Division | $50 one-time filing; $85 expedited | perpetual — Arizona LLCs file no annual report | 2026-09-03 |
| Articles of Incorporationonly if it applies to you | Arizona Corporation Commission, Corporations Division | $60 one-time filing; $95 expedited | perpetual, but an annual report is due each anniversary month | 2026-09-03 |
| Transaction Privilege Tax License | Arizona Department of Revenue | Varies — formula on the AZ page | calendar year — renewal is due 1 January and delinquent after January | 2026-09-03 |
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 Yuma County Az?
There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 16 records listed for a restaurant in Yuma County Az, AZ, 4 apply to every business of this type and 12 are conditional. Adding every fee on the page together would overstate what most operators pay, because it would include permits they never need.
2 of the 16 are charged as a range or a formula set by the issuing agency, and 11 have no fee published at all. The ones particular to this business that vary:
Food Establishment Permit: $144–$1,015 a year, set by the county board of health — there is no state fee
The other 1 variable fee belongs to permits that apply to every type of business here; its formula is set out on the Yuma County Az permits page and the AZ state page.
Which offices issue these permits in Yuma County Az?
Permits for a restaurant in Yuma County Az, AZ come from 5 separate offices: Yuma County Board of Supervisors, Yuma County Department of Development Services, Arizona Department of Health Services, Arizona Corporation Commission, Corporations Division, Arizona Department of Revenue. No single office issues them all, which is why an opening means filing in several places rather than one.
- Yuma County Board of SupervisorsIssues 1 permit on this page: Liquor License Application: County Recommendation (Premises Outside Incorporated Cities)198 Main Street, Yuma, AZwww.yumacountyaz.gov/businesses/local-ordinances
- Yuma County Department of Development ServicesIssues 8 permits on this page, including Zoning Use Approval (Building Permit Trigger for Change of Use), Zoning Use Table: C-2 General Commercial, Special Use Permit (Commercial and Industrial Uses)2351 W. 26th St., Yuma, AZ 85364 · (928) 817-5000www.yumacountyaz.gov/government/development-services/fee-schedule
- Arizona Department of Health ServicesIssues 2 permits on this page: Food Establishment Permit, Food Handler Card150 North 18th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85007 · (602) 542-1025www.azdhs.gov/licensing/childcare-facilities/index.php
- Arizona Corporation Commission, Corporations DivisionIssues 4 permits on this page: Annual Report, Publication of the Formation Notice, Articles of Organization (LLC), Articles of Incorporation1300 West Washington Street, Phoenix, AZ 85007 · (602) 542-3026ArizonaBusinessCenter.azcc.gov
- Arizona Department of RevenueIssues 1 permit on this page: Transaction Privilege Tax License1600 West Monroe Street, Phoenix, AZ 85007 · (602) 255-3381azdor.gov/transaction-privilege-tax/tpt-license
What does a restaurant need in Yuma County Az that other businesses do not?
Zoning Use Table: Residential Commercial (RC)
Section 622.02 of the Zoning Ordinance lists the uses of the Residential Commercial (RC) district. Coffee and tea retail sales are permitted under item I, so a coffee shop is a permitted use in this district. Barbershops, beauty and nail salons are listed under item E, and health and personal care stores under item R. Restaurants and take-out food are special uses under section 622.03(F), and bars and pubs are listed under section 622.03(B). The ordinance text is cited at its amendment through September 2, 2021, and it applies to the unincorporated area of the county. The cited ordinance sets no fee for this item, so the requirement is recorded without a dollar figure.
Shared with other businesses in Yuma County Az
- Liquor License Application: County Recommendation (Premises Outside Incorporated Cities) — Yuma County Board of Supervisors, No fee, not applicable at the county level; the state liquor license runs on its own renewal cycle. Also required for retail stores; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
- Zoning Use Table: C-2 General Commercial — Yuma County Department of Development Services, No fee, no term is stated in the zoning ordinance text. Also required for salons and barbers, childcare centres, veterinary clinics and auto repair shops; what it involves is set out on the salons and barbers page.
- Special Use Permit (Commercial and Industrial Uses) — Yuma County Department of Development Services, No fee, no term is stated in the zoning ordinance text. Also required for coffee shops, auto repair shops and veterinary clinics; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
- Encroachment Permit (Work in County Right-of-Way) — Yuma County Department of Development Services, No fee, per permit; the posted schedule states no term. Also required for contractors and trades, auto repair shops and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the contractors and trades page.
- Zoning Use Table: C-1 Local Commercial — Yuma County Department of Development Services, No fee, no term is stated in the zoning ordinance text. Also required for coffee shops, food trucks, childcare centres, salons and barbers and veterinary clinics; what it involves is set out on the food trucks page.
- Food Establishment Permit — Arizona Department of Health Services, $144–$1,015 a year, set by the county board of health — there is no state fee, 1 year from issue. Also required for coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the food trucks page.
- Food Handler Card — Arizona Department of Health Services, No fee, 3 years in the counties that require one. Also required for coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the food trucks page.
The other 3 local permits in the tables apply to every type of business in Yuma County Az, AZ; what each one involves is set out on the Yuma County Az permits page. The 5 state-level registrations apply to every type of business across AZ and are covered on the AZ state page.
How does a restaurant compare with other businesses in Yuma County Az?
The closest match is a coffee shop, which shares 5 of these permits. A restaurant also needs Liquor License Application: County Recommendation (Premises Outside Incorporated Cities), Zoning Use Table: C-2 General Commercial and Encroachment Permit (Work in County Right-of-Way). A coffee shop needs nothing here that a restaurant does not.
| Business | Its own permits | Shared with a restaurant | Only a restaurant needs | Only it needs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee shops | 5 | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Auto repair shops | 4 | 3 | 5 | 1 |
| Food trucks | 4 | 3 | 5 | 1 |
| Salons and barbers | 4 | 3 | 5 | 1 |
| Veterinary clinics | 4 | 3 | 5 | 1 |
| Retail stores | 2 | 2 | 6 | 0 |
| Childcare centres | 3 | 2 | 6 | 1 |
| Contractors and trades | 2 | 1 | 7 | 1 |
| Fitness studios | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 |
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 retail stores page, salons and barbers page, coffee shops page, contractors and trades page and food trucks page. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the Yuma County Az permits page and the AZ state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.
- Yuma County Zoning Ordinance (amendments through Sept. 2, 2021)Yuma County · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-05
Related
Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.