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

Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Local Referral Fee

A restaurant or coffee shop applying for a California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control license at a location in unincorporated Los Angeles County needs a $548 DRP referral (effective March 1, 2026), on top of its state ABC license fee. Under Title 22 §22.140.134, whether the specific on-site alcohol use additionally needs a full Conditional Use Permit, a Minor CUP, or no further zoning action depends on the configuration (bar, restaurant with incidental alcohol service, extended hours, and so on); the referral fee itself applies regardless. This is a zoning-side fee separate from the state's own ABC licensing fees.

Retail Food Facility Permit — Restaurant / Coffee Shop (annual)

Every restaurant and coffee shop with a fixed location needs an annual retail food facility permit from LA County Public Health, Environmental Health, everywhere in the county except the cities of Long Beach, Pasadena and Vernon, which run their own environmental health departments and enforce the state Retail Food Code themselves. The FY2026-27 fee depends on seat count and a low/moderate/high risk tier reflecting food-handling complexity — a coffee shop with simple handling (espresso, prepackaged food) is typically Low tier, while full cooking and hot holding is High tier — ranging from $319 for a small, low-risk business up to $1,438 for a large, high-risk one. New construction or a major remodel also requires a separate one-time plan check fee, recorded below. Confirm risk-tier classification with the DPH-EH plan checker, (626) 430-5560, before budgeting.

Shared with other businesses in Los Angeles County

• County Business License — Regulated Categories (Restaurant, Motor Vehicle Repair, Massage/Body Art, Health Spa) — Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector, Business License Section, Cost-recovery fee set per license category under LA County Code Title 7 §7.14.010; every application carries a non-refundable application fee, and some categories additionally require sign-off from the Fire Department, Sheriff, Dept. of Health Services or Dept. of Regional Planning before the Business License Commission issues the license. The per-category dollar amounts were not published in the TTC's accessible fee documents., not stated in the sources retrieved. Also required for auto repair shops, salons and barbers and fitness studios; what it involves is set out on the salons and barbers page.
• Food Facility Plan Check (new construction / major remodel) — Los 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 project. Also required for coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
• Hazardous Materials Business Plan / Handler / Generator Permit (CUPA) — Los Angeles County Fire Department / Consolidated Fire Protection District, acting as the county's Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA), Annual fees under the Unified Program (FY2026-27): Hazardous Material Handler — Small Quantity Handler $437, Minor $633, Moderate $810, Major $1,120, Major-Large Volume $1,595, Major-Complex $2,462; Hazardous Waste Generator, by employee count, $528-$5,126; Tiered Permit — Conditionally Exempt $338, Conditionally Authorized $2,252, Permit by Rule $3,266., annual. Also required for auto repair shops, food trucks, veterinary clinics and contractors and trades; what it involves is set out on the auto repair shops page.
• Conditional Use Permit (general) — Los 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 required, runs with the land (LA County Code Title 22); an extension can be requested through the CUP Time Extension process below. Also required for coffee shops, food trucks, retail stores, childcare centres, fitness studios and veterinary clinics; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops 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 coffee shops, 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 coffee shops, 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 coffee shops, 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 coffee shops, 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 coffee shops, retail stores and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the food trucks page.