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15 permits · verified 2026-10-02

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

In short

A coffee shop in Kern County, CA has 4 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 11 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. Kern County Planning and Natural Resources Department charges $1,352 one-time per application (code PIM-003), per the Land Development Services Fee Schedule effective 1/1/2025 for the zone variance. 6 of the 15 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 coffee shop in Kern County

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Tobacco Retailer's Permitonly if it applies to youKern County Public Health Services Department, Environmental Health Services DivisionLow risk $155.00 + $290.00 = $445.00; Moderate $155.00 + $595.00 = $750.00; High $155.00 + $870.00 = $1,025.00 (codes TB01/TB11/TB12).annual2026-10-02
Liquor License — Determination of Public Convenience or Necessityonly if it applies to youKern County Planning and Natural Resources Department$1,123.00 for a full Determination of Public Convenience or Necessity (code PIM-018); a $281.00 preliminary review option is also available, per the Land Development Services Fee Schedule effective 1/1/2025. This county fee is separate from the state alcohol license itself: the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control's own fee schedule, effective January 1, 2026, lists a $1,135.00 application fee for a Type 41 (on-sale beer/wine, bona fide eating place) or Type 20 (off-sale beer/wine) license, and a $7,515.00 application fee for a Type 47 (on-sale general, bona fide eating place) license.one-time per qualifying ABC application2026-10-02
Retail Food Facility Health PermitKern County Public Health Services Department, Environmental Health Services DivisionFood Facility (restaurant): Low risk $155.00 application + $295.00 permit = $450.00; Moderate $155.00 + $625.00 = $780.00; High $155.00 + $920.00 = $1,075.00 (codes RE09/10/11). Food Facility - Market (grocery/bakery): Low $155.00 + $265.00 = $420.00; Moderate $155.00 + $520.00 = $675.00; High $155.00 + $795.00 = $950.00 (codes FM09/10/11). Limited prepackaged non-potentially-hazardous food display: $155.00 + $155.00 = $310.00 (code FL01). Plan Review (one-time): $865.00 for 1,000 sq ft or less, $1,300.00 for 1,001-10,000 sq ft, $1,670.00 for over 10,000 sq ft (codes FP09/10/11). Vending machine: $155.00 + $170.00 = $325.00 (code VE03).annual, July 1 - June 302026-10-02
Temporary Food Facility / Community Event Sponsor Permitonly if it applies to youKern County Public Health Services Department, Environmental Health Services DivisionTemporary Food Facility: Low $155.00 + $205.00 = $360.00; Moderate $155.00 + $240.00 = $395.00; High $155.00 + $295.00 = $450.00 (codes TF01/02/03). Single-event tier: $65.00-$120.00. Community Event Sponsor Permit (the event organizer's own permit, separate from each vendor's permit): $515.00-$1,340.00, depending on vendor count (1-5 up to 16 or more) and event duration (codes SS09-SS17).per event2026-10-02
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 Kern County

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Zone Changeonly if it applies to youKern County Planning and Natural Resources DepartmentVaries — formula on the Kern County pageone-time per application2026-10-02
Zone Varianceonly if it applies to youKern County Planning and Natural Resources Department$1,352 one-time per application (code PIM-003), per the Land Development Services Fee Schedule effective 1/1/2025one-time per application2026-10-02

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 coffee shop in Kern County?

There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 15 records listed for a coffee shop in Kern County, CA, 4 apply to every business of this type and 11 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, 1 carry a flat fee, coming to $15.00. That is a floor, not a total. 6 of the 15 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:

Tobacco Retailer's Permit: Low risk $155.00 + $290.00 = $445.00; Moderate $155.00 + $595.00 = $750.00; High $155.00 + $870.00 = $1,025.00 (codes TB01/TB11/TB12).

Liquor License — Determination of Public Convenience or Necessity: $1,123.00 for a full Determination of Public Convenience or Necessity (code PIM-018); a $281.00 preliminary review option is also available, per the Land Development Services Fee Schedule effective 1/1/2025. This county fee is separate from the state alcohol license itself: the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control's own fee schedule, effective January 1, 2026, lists a $1,135.00 application fee for a Type 41 (on-sale beer/wine, bona fide eating place) or Type 20 (off-sale beer/wine) license, and a $7,515.00 application fee for a Type 47 (on-sale general, bona fide eating place) license.

Retail Food Facility Health Permit: Food Facility (restaurant): Low risk $155.00 application + $295.00 permit = $450.00; Moderate $155.00 + $625.00 = $780.00; High $155.00 + $920.00 = $1,075.00 (codes RE09/10/11). Food Facility - Market (grocery/bakery): Low $155.00 + $265.00 = $420.00; Moderate $155.00 + $520.00 = $675.00; High $155.00 + $795.00 = $950.00 (codes FM09/10/11). Limited prepackaged non-potentially-hazardous food display: $155.00 + $155.00 = $310.00 (code FL01). Plan Review (one-time): $865.00 for 1,000 sq ft or less, $1,300.00 for 1,001-10,000 sq ft, $1,670.00 for over 10,000 sq ft (codes FP09/10/11). Vending machine: $155.00 + $170.00 = $325.00 (code VE03).

Temporary Food Facility / Community Event Sponsor Permit: Temporary Food Facility: Low $155.00 + $205.00 = $360.00; Moderate $155.00 + $240.00 = $395.00; High $155.00 + $295.00 = $450.00 (codes TF01/02/03). Single-event tier: $65.00-$120.00. Community Event Sponsor Permit (the event organizer's own permit, separate from each vendor's permit): $515.00-$1,340.00, depending on vendor count (1-5 up to 16 or more) and event duration (codes SS09-SS17).

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

Which offices issue these permits in Kern County?

Permits for a coffee shop in Kern County, CA come from 6 separate offices: Kern County Planning and Natural Resources Department, Kern County Public Health Services Department, Environmental Health Services 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 coffee shop need in Kern County that other businesses do not?

Liquor License — Determination of Public Convenience or Necessity

Kern County Code Ch. 19.116, read in full, creates no county-issued alcohol license of its own; its only function is this Determination of Public Convenience or Necessity process, triggered when California's Business and Professions Code requires local input on a state ABC application — in practice, a new or transferred license in an over-concentrated or high-crime census tract. The applicant files with Kern Planning, notice goes to property owners and existing licensees within 500 feet and to the Kern County Sheriff's Department, and the Board of Supervisors adopts a resolution with findings after a public hearing under §§19.116.020-.040. The county fee is $1,123.00 (code PIM-018), with a $281.00 preliminary review option, per the Land Development Services Fee Schedule effective 1/1/2025. The underlying alcohol license itself is issued and renewed exclusively by the state: California ABC's current fee schedule, effective January 1, 2026, lists a $1,135.00 application fee for a Type 41 or Type 20 license and a $7,515.00 application fee for a Type 47 license, figures recorded here only as context for the state process this county fee attaches to, not as a Kern County charge.

Retail Food Facility Health Permit

Kern County Code §8.04.020 requires this permit for any business the Director of Public Health regulates 'within or without an incorporated city,' so this EHS program reaches a restaurant, coffee shop or food-selling retail store anywhere in Kern County, including every incorporated city, not only the unincorporated area. The figures above are drawn from the current version of EHS's Food Fees schedule, which carries an HTTP 'Published Time' header of July 1, 2026, its effective date. Fees run on an annual cycle from July 1 through June 30, with a one-time Plan Review fee charged before a new facility opens and a 50% penalty for a payment made after the invoice due date. A market or limited prepackaged-food retailer pays a separate, lower tier than a full-service restaurant under the same schedule.

Shared with other businesses in Kern County

  • Tobacco Retailer's Permit — Kern County Public Health Services Department, Environmental Health Services Division, Low risk $155.00 + $290.00 = $445.00; Moderate $155.00 + $595.00 = $750.00; High $155.00 + $870.00 = $1,025.00 (codes TB01/TB11/TB12)., annual. Also required for retail stores and restaurants; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.
  • Temporary Food Facility / Community Event Sponsor Permit — Kern County Public Health Services Department, Environmental Health Services Division, Temporary Food Facility: Low $155.00 + $205.00 = $360.00; Moderate $155.00 + $240.00 = $395.00; High $155.00 + $295.00 = $450.00 (codes TF01/02/03). Single-event tier: $65.00-$120.00. Community Event Sponsor Permit (the event organizer's own permit, separate from each vendor's permit): $515.00-$1,340.00, depending on vendor count (1-5 up to 16 or more) and event duration (codes SS09-SS17)., per event. Also required for restaurants and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the food trucks page.
  • Food Facility Permit — California Department of Public Health, Food and Drug Branch, No fee, set by the local enforcement agency. Also required for restaurants, retail stores and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the retail stores 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, retail stores and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the food trucks page.

The other 2 local permits in the tables apply to every type of business in Kern County, CA; what each one involves is set out on the Kern 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 coffee shop compare with other businesses in Kern County?

A coffee shop and a restaurant in Kern County, CA need exactly the same 6 permits beyond the ones every business needs.

Permits particular to each business type in Kern County, CA, compared with a coffee shop
BusinessIts own permitsShared with a coffee shopOnly a coffee shop needsOnly it needs
Restaurants6600
Retail stores5510
Food trucks4331
Auto repair shops1061
Childcare centres2062
Contractors and trades2062
Fitness studios0060
Salons and barbers5065
Veterinary clinics2062

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

  1. Kern County Land Development Services Fee Schedule, effective 1/1/2025Kern County Planning and Natural Resources Department / Public Works Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-02
  2. Kern County Code Chapter 19.116 (Liquor License — Determination of Public Convenience) — filing, notice and Board of Supervisors hearing procedure in §§19.116.020-.040Kern County, via Municode (Kern County Municipal Code) · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-02
  3. Application Fee Schedules, effective January 1, 2026California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-02
  4. Food Fees schedule (Food Facility, Mobile Food Facility, Temporary Food Facility, Community Event Sponsor, Vending Machine), Published Time July 1, 2026Kern County Public Health Services Department, Environmental Health Services Division · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-02
  5. Kern County Code Chapter 8.04 (Environmental Health Permits and Service Fees) — §8.04.020's 'within or without an incorporated city' scope languageKern County, via Municode (Kern County Municipal Code) · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-02

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