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23 permits · verified 2026-09-27

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

In short

A coffee shop in Los Angeles County, CA has 5 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 18 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning charges $548 per referral (effective March 1, 2026) for the alcoholic beverage control (abc) local referral fee. 11 of the 23 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-09-27 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.

Permits particular to a coffee shop in Los Angeles County

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Local Referral Feeonly if it applies to youLos Angeles County Department of Regional Planning$548 per referral (effective March 1, 2026)one-time, per application2026-09-27
Compact Mobile Food Operation Permit (cart)Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Division$126–$592 a year per cart, by risk tier (FY2026-27): Low $126, Moderate $299, High $592 (fee codes 1301-1303)annual (county fiscal year, July 1-June 30)2026-09-27
Retail Food Facility Permit — Restaurant / Coffee Shop (annual)Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Division$319–$1,438 a year, by seat count and risk tier (FY2026-27): 0-30 seats Low $319/Moderate $719/High $1,206; 31-60 seats Low $344/Moderate $762/High $1,309; 61-150 seats Low $370/Moderate $838/High $1,375; 151+ seats Low $400/Moderate $932/High $1,438 (fee codes 1630-1641)annual (county fiscal year, July 1-June 30)2026-09-27
Food Facility Plan Check (new construction / major remodel)only if it applies to youLos Angeles County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Division$1,044–$2,723 one-time, by facility square footage (FY2026-27): 0-500 SF $1,044; 501-1,999 SF $1,530; 2,000-3,999 SF $1,865; 4,000-9,999 SF $2,276; 10,000+ SF $2,723 (fee codes 1701-1705)one-time per project2026-09-27
Conditional Use Permit (general)only if it applies to youLos Angeles County Department of Regional Planning$11,899–$15,873 per application, effective March 1, 2026: $15,873 when there is no other concurrent application on the same property; $11,899 when there is a concurrent application; plus a Fire referral fee of $442, plus $259 per revision, where Fire review is requiredruns with the land (LA County Code Title 22); an extension can be requested through the CUP Time Extension process below2026-09-27
Conditional Use Permit, Minor (Commercial or Industrial)only if it applies to youLos Angeles County Department of Regional Planning$3,513 per application, commercial or industrial (effective March 1, 2026)runs with the land2026-09-27
Conditional Use Permit — Modification or Elimination of Conditionsonly if it applies to youLos Angeles County Department of Regional Planning$1,353–$11,129 per request, effective March 1, 2026: $11,129 general; $1,353 for a nonprofit operator with an annual operating budget under $500,000one-time, per modification request2026-09-27
Conditional Use Permit — Time Extensiononly if it applies to youLos Angeles County Department of Regional Planning$2,109 per extension request (effective March 1, 2026)one-time, per extension request2026-09-27
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 Los Angeles County

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Site Plan Review, Ministerial (Commercial & Industrial)only if it applies to youLos Angeles County Department of Regional PlanningVaries — formula on the Los Angeles County pageone-time2026-09-27
Change-of-Use / Occupancy Inspection Feeonly if it applies to youLos Angeles County Department of Public Works, Building and Safety DivisionVaries — formula on the Los Angeles County pageone-time, per inspection2026-09-27
On-Site Business Sign Plan Reviewonly if it applies to youLos Angeles County Department of Regional PlanningVaries — formula on the Los Angeles County pageone-time2026-09-27
Commercial Building Permit / Plan Checkonly if it applies to youLos Angeles County Department of Public Works, Building and Safety DivisionVaries — formula on the Los Angeles County pageper project2026-09-27
Demolition Inspection Feeonly if it applies to youLos Angeles County Department of Public Works, Building and Safety Division$244.88 one-time, per demolition inspection (FY2026-27; was $229.93 in the FY2024-25 archived schedule)one-time, per inspection2026-09-27
Fictitious Business Name (DBA) Statementonly if it applies to youLos Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County ClerkVaries — formula on the Los Angeles County pagenot stated in the sources retrieved2026-09-27

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 Los Angeles County?

There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 23 records listed for a coffee shop in Los Angeles County, CA, 5 apply to every business of this type and 18 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 5 that always apply, 1 carry a flat fee, coming to $15.00. That is a floor, not a total. 11 of the 23 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:

Compact Mobile Food Operation Permit (cart): $126–$592 a year per cart, by risk tier (FY2026-27): Low $126, Moderate $299, High $592 (fee codes 1301-1303)

Retail Food Facility Permit — Restaurant / Coffee Shop (annual): $319–$1,438 a year, by seat count and risk tier (FY2026-27): 0-30 seats Low $319/Moderate $719/High $1,206; 31-60 seats Low $344/Moderate $762/High $1,309; 61-150 seats Low $370/Moderate $838/High $1,375; 151+ seats Low $400/Moderate $932/High $1,438 (fee codes 1630-1641)

Food Facility Plan Check (new construction / major remodel): $1,044–$2,723 one-time, by facility square footage (FY2026-27): 0-500 SF $1,044; 501-1,999 SF $1,530; 2,000-3,999 SF $1,865; 4,000-9,999 SF $2,276; 10,000+ SF $2,723 (fee codes 1701-1705)

Conditional Use Permit (general): $11,899–$15,873 per application, effective March 1, 2026: $15,873 when there is no other concurrent application on the same property; $11,899 when there is a concurrent application; plus a Fire referral fee of $442, plus $259 per revision, where Fire review is required

Conditional Use Permit — Modification or Elimination of Conditions: $1,353–$11,129 per request, effective March 1, 2026: $11,129 general; $1,353 for a nonprofit operator with an annual operating budget under $500,000

The other 6 variable fees belong to permits that apply to every type of business here; their formulas are set out on the Los Angeles County permits page and the CA state page.

Which offices issue these permits in Los Angeles County?

Permits for a coffee shop in Los Angeles County, CA come from 8 separate offices: Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Division, Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, Building and Safety Division, Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, 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 Los Angeles County that other businesses do not?

Compact Mobile Food Operation Permit (cart)

A pushcart or other compact mobile food operation — for example a small espresso or hot-dog cart, smaller than a full mobile food truck or trailer — is priced separately from the mobile food facility permit: $126 a year at Low risk, $299 at Moderate and $592 at High risk under the FY2026-27 DPH-EH fee schedule. It applies everywhere in the county except Long Beach, Pasadena and Vernon, and the operator still needs a commissary agreement (see the commissary record) and route/schedule reporting to Public Health.

Food Facility Plan Check (new construction / major remodel)

New construction or a major remodel of a restaurant, coffee shop or mobile food facility anywhere in Los Angeles County outside Long Beach, Pasadena and Vernon needs a one-time DPH-EH plan check before the operating permit is issued, priced by the facility's square footage under the FY2026-27 fee schedule: $1,044 for up to 500 square feet, rising through $1,530, $1,865 and $2,276 to $2,723 for 10,000 square feet or more. Plan check is billed separately from the annual operating permit fee (listed elsewhere for this jurisdiction) and is required before a health inspector will approve the space for occupancy. Contact the DPH-EH Plan Check Program at (626) 430-5560.

Conditional Use Permit (general)

A conditional use permit is required in unincorporated Los Angeles County wherever the zoning code marks a use as conditional rather than by-right — for example, on-site alcohol service at a restaurant under Title 22 §22.140.134, a stand-alone child care center in some zones, or an animal hospital. The March 1, 2026 fee is $15,873 when the application has no other concurrent application on the same property, and $11,899 when it does — the two figures are easy to transpose, so confirm which condition applies before budgeting. Where Fire Department review is required, a $442 referral fee applies, plus $259 for each revision. This fee applies only in the unincorporated area; DRP has no zoning authority inside any incorporated city.

Shared with other businesses in Los Angeles County

  • Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Local Referral Fee — Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning, $548 per referral (effective March 1, 2026), one-time, per application. Also required for restaurants; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.
  • Retail Food Facility Permit — Restaurant / Coffee Shop (annual) — Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Division, $319–$1,438 a year, by seat count and risk tier (FY2026-27): 0-30 seats Low $319/Moderate $719/High $1,206; 31-60 seats Low $344/Moderate $762/High $1,309; 61-150 seats Low $370/Moderate $838/High $1,375; 151+ seats Low $400/Moderate $932/High $1,438 (fee codes 1630-1641), annual (county fiscal year, July 1-June 30). Also required for restaurants; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.
  • Conditional Use Permit, Minor (Commercial or Industrial) — Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning, $3,513 per application, commercial or industrial (effective March 1, 2026), runs with the land. Also required for restaurants, food trucks, retail stores, fitness studios and veterinary clinics; what it involves is set out on the fitness studios page.
  • Conditional Use Permit — Modification or Elimination of Conditions — Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning, $1,353–$11,129 per request, effective March 1, 2026: $11,129 general; $1,353 for a nonprofit operator with an annual operating budget under $500,000, one-time, per modification request. Also required for restaurants, food trucks, retail stores, childcare centres, fitness studios and veterinary clinics; what it involves is set out on the fitness studios page.
  • Conditional Use Permit — Time Extension — Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning, $2,109 per extension request (effective March 1, 2026), one-time, per extension request. Also required for restaurants, food trucks, retail stores, childcare centres, fitness studios and veterinary clinics; 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 6 local permits in the tables apply to every type of business in Los Angeles County, CA; what each one involves is set out on the Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles County?

The closest match is a restaurant, which shares 9 of these permits. A coffee shop also needs Compact Mobile Food Operation Permit (cart). A restaurant needs County Business License — Regulated Categories (Restaurant, Motor Vehicle Repair, Massage/Body Art, Health Spa) and Hazardous Materials Business Plan / Handler / Generator Permit (CUPA), which a coffee shop does not.

Permits particular to each business type in Los Angeles County, CA, compared with a coffee shop
BusinessIts own permitsShared with a coffee shopOnly a coffee shop needsOnly it needs
Restaurants11912
Food trucks11823
Retail stores9643
Fitness studios6462
Veterinary clinics10466
Childcare centres7374
Auto repair shops30103
Contractors and trades40104
Salons and barbers40104

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

  1. Public Health and Financial Management Fee Schedule, FY2026-27 (report run 08/18/2026)LA County Dept. of Public Health, Environmental Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-27
  2. Los Angeles County Department of Public Health — food trucks and carts, and the cities Public Health does not coverLos Angeles County Department of Public Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
  3. Environmental Health permits overviewLA County Dept. of Public Health, Environmental Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-27
  4. Revised Filing Fees, effective March 1, 2026LA County Dept. of Regional Planning · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-27

Related

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