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13 permits · verified 2026-10-02

What permits do you need to open a retail store in Contra Costa County?

In short

A retail store in Contra Costa County, CA has 4 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 9 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. Contra Costa Health, Environmental Health Division charges $947 annual, Restaurant category RC1 (0-25 seats) — currently billed figure for the retail food facility permit. 4 of the 13 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-10-02 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.

Permits particular to a retail store in Contra Costa County

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Retail Food Facility PermitContra Costa Health, Environmental Health Division$947 annual, Restaurant category RC1 (0-25 seats) — currently billed figureannual2026-10-02
Land Use Permit (General/"Other" category)only if it applies to youContra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development$5,500 minimum deposit plus time and materials, for the Land Use Permit (Other) category, covering fee-schedule codes S-025, S-027, S-027B and S-029.per application (one-time)2026-10-02
Building Permit — Plan Review & Permit Review/Processingonly if it applies to youContra Costa County Department of Conservation and DevelopmentPlan Review fee, by improvement value (seven tiers): up to $2,000 = $49 + $8.94 per $1,000 above $2,000; $25,000 = $254 + $6.44 per $1,000 above $25,000; $50,000 = $415 + $4.47 per $1,000 above $50,000; $100,000 = $639 + $5.30 per $1,000 above $100,000; $500,000 = $2,758 + $5.52 per $1,000 above $500,000; $1,000,000 = $5,516 + $3.79 per $1,000 above $1,000,000; $5,000,000 = $20,685 + $5.52 per $1,000 above $5,000,000. A separate, lower-scaled Permit Review and Processing fee runs on the same valuation bands, starting at $19 + $3.44 per $1,000 above $2,000.per permit (one-time, project-based)2026-10-02
Food Facility PermitCalifornia Department of Public Health, Food and Drug BranchNo feeset by the local enforcement agency2026-09-03
Food Handler CardCalifornia Department of Public Health, Food and Drug Branch$15 statutory maximum for at least one accredited course3 years2026-09-03

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 Contra Costa County

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Business License Taxonly if it applies to youContra Costa County Treasurer-Tax Collector, Business License Tax DivisionVaries — formula on the Contra Costa County pageannual; license year July 1 - June 30, renewal due by June 302026-10-02

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

CA 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
Statement of Information (LLC)only if it applies to youCalifornia Secretary of State, Business Programs Division$20 per filing, biennialbiennial2026-09-03
Articles of Organization (LLC)only if it applies to youCalifornia Secretary of State, Business Programs Division$70 one-time filingno expiry, but a Statement of Information is due biennially2026-09-03
Articles of Incorporationonly if it applies to youCalifornia Secretary of State, Business Programs Division$100 one-time filingno expiry, but a Statement of Information is due annually2026-09-03
Statement of Information (Corporation)only if it applies to youCalifornia Secretary of State, Business Programs Division$25 per filing, annualannual2026-09-03
Seller's Permitonly if it applies to youCalifornia Department of Tax and Fee AdministrationNo fee — no fee to applyno expiry while actively engaged in business as a seller2026-09-03
Annual LLC Tax and Minimum Franchise Taxonly if it applies to youCalifornia Franchise Tax BoardVaries — formula on the CA pageannual, until the entity is cancelled2026-09-03
General Business License — California position (city or county, not state)California Secretary of State, Business Programs DivisionNo feeset by the issuing city or county2026-09-03

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 retail store in Contra Costa County?

There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 13 records listed for a retail store in Contra Costa County, CA, 4 apply to every business of this type and 9 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 4 that always apply, 2 carry a flat fee, coming to $962.00. That is a floor, not a total. 4 of the 13 are charged as a range or a formula set by the issuing agency, and 2 have no fee published at all. The ones particular to this business that vary:

Land Use Permit (General/"Other" category): $5,500 minimum deposit plus time and materials, for the Land Use Permit (Other) category, covering fee-schedule codes S-025, S-027, S-027B and S-029.

Building Permit — Plan Review & Permit Review/Processing: Plan Review fee, by improvement value (seven tiers): up to $2,000 = $49 + $8.94 per $1,000 above $2,000; $25,000 = $254 + $6.44 per $1,000 above $25,000; $50,000 = $415 + $4.47 per $1,000 above $50,000; $100,000 = $639 + $5.30 per $1,000 above $100,000; $500,000 = $2,758 + $5.52 per $1,000 above $500,000; $1,000,000 = $5,516 + $3.79 per $1,000 above $1,000,000; $5,000,000 = $20,685 + $5.52 per $1,000 above $5,000,000. A separate, lower-scaled Permit Review and Processing fee runs on the same valuation bands, starting at $19 + $3.44 per $1,000 above $2,000.

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

Which offices issue these permits in Contra Costa County?

Permits for a retail store in Contra Costa County, CA come from 7 separate offices: Contra Costa Health, Environmental Health Division, Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development, Contra Costa County Treasurer-Tax Collector, Business License Tax Division, California Department of Public Health, Food and Drug Branch, California Secretary of State, Business Programs Division, California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, California Franchise Tax Board. No single office issues them all, which is why an opening means filing in several places rather than one.

What does a retail store need in Contra Costa County that other businesses do not?

Food Facility Permit

California writes one statewide standard and delegates the permit. No food facility may open without one, but section 114381(d) puts the price in local hands: any fee "shall be determined by the local governing body" and may only cover the actual cost of enforcement. So there is a statewide RULE and no statewide FEE — no amount is recorded here because the state sets none. The figure that applies to you is your county environmental health department's, and it varies widely between counties. The permit is non-transferable, tied to the specific person, location and activity, and must be displayed. Cottage food operations, child day care facilities and community care facilities sit outside the definition of a food facility.

Shared with other businesses in Contra Costa County

  • Retail Food Facility Permit — Contra Costa Health, Environmental Health Division, $947 annual, Restaurant category RC1 (0-25 seats) — currently billed figure, annual. Also required for restaurants and coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.
  • Land Use Permit (General/"Other" category) — Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development, $5,500 minimum deposit plus time and materials, for the Land Use Permit (Other) category, covering fee-schedule codes S-025, S-027, S-027B and S-029., per application (one-time). Also required for contractors and trades, restaurants, salons and barbers and fitness studios; what it involves is set out on the contractors and trades page.
  • Building Permit — Plan Review & Permit Review/Processing — Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development, Plan Review fee, by improvement value (seven tiers): up to $2,000 = $49 + $8.94 per $1,000 above $2,000; $25,000 = $254 + $6.44 per $1,000 above $25,000; $50,000 = $415 + $4.47 per $1,000 above $50,000; $100,000 = $639 + $5.30 per $1,000 above $100,000; $500,000 = $2,758 + $5.52 per $1,000 above $500,000; $1,000,000 = $5,516 + $3.79 per $1,000 above $1,000,000; $5,000,000 = $20,685 + $5.52 per $1,000 above $5,000,000. A separate, lower-scaled Permit Review and Processing fee runs on the same valuation bands, starting at $19 + $3.44 per $1,000 above $2,000., per permit (one-time, project-based). Also required for contractors and trades, restaurants, fitness studios, childcare centres, auto repair shops and salons and barbers; what it involves is set out on the contractors and trades page.
  • Food Handler Card — California Department of Public Health, Food and Drug Branch, $15 statutory maximum for at least one accredited course, 3 years. Also required for restaurants, coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the food trucks page.

The other 1 local permit in the tables apply to every type of business in Contra Costa County, CA; what each one involves is set out on the Contra Costa County permits page. The 7 state-level registrations apply to every type of business across CA and are covered on the CA state page.

How does a retail store compare with other businesses in Contra Costa County?

The closest match is a restaurant, which shares 5 of these permits. A restaurant needs Temporary Food Event Permit and Hazardous Materials Business Plan (HMBP) Annual Permit, which a retail store does not.

Permits particular to each business type in Contra Costa County, CA, compared with a retail store
BusinessIts own permitsShared with a retail storeOnly a retail store needsOnly it needs
Restaurants7502
Coffee shops5322
Fitness studios2230
Food trucks4232
Contractors and trades5233
Salons and barbers5233
Childcare centres2141
Auto repair shops4143
Veterinary clinics4054

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, contractors and trades page and food trucks page. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the Contra Costa County permits page and the CA state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.

  1. California Health and Safety Code section 114381 — food facility permit required, fee determined by the local governing bodyCalifornia Legislative Information · 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.