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15 permits · verified 2026-10-09

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

In short

A restaurant in Solano 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. California Secretary of State, Business Programs Division charges $20 per filing, biennial for the statement of information (llc). 7 of the 15 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-10-09 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.

Permits particular to a restaurant in Solano County

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Special / Temporary Event Food Permits (Organizer and Booth)only if it applies to youSolano County Department of Resource Management, Environmental Health DivisionEvent organizer: 2-5 booths $300; 6-10 booths $449; more than 10 booths $595; more than 20 booths $785; non-profit organizer $0. Food booth, single event (high / medium / low risk): $134 / $94 / $62. Food booth, seasonal (high / medium / low risk): $354 / $236 / $196. Applications or payments received less than 14 days before the event are assessed a 50% late fee.per event, or per season for seasonal permits2026-10-09
Catering Registration / Host Facility Permitonly if it applies to youSolano County Department of Resource Management, Environmental Health DivisionCatering registration $526; out-of-county catering registration $380; host facility $420; catering registration - veteran exemption $0.annual2026-10-09
Retail Food Facility Health PermitSolano County Department of Resource Management, Environmental Health DivisionFood establishment, by floor area and risk (high / medium / low): under 300 sq ft $641 / $524 / $420; 301-1,000 sq ft $993 / $855 / $685; 1,001-3,000 sq ft $1,418 / $1,165 / $931; 3,001-6,000 sq ft $1,962 / $1,606 / $1,293; 6,001-40,000 sq ft $2,561 / $2,102 / $1,680; over 40,000 sq ft $2,863 / $2,347 / $1,876. Day care $561; public or private school $649; seasonal $356; vending machine site $220 plus $44 each additional machine; non-profit and veteran $0.annual2026-10-09
Food Facility Plan Check and Construction Inspectiononly if it applies to youSolano County Department of Resource Management, Environmental Health DivisionNew food facility plan check, by floor area: under 300 sq ft $1,160; 301-1,000 sq ft $1,690; 1,001-3,000 sq ft $1,946; 3,001-9,000 sq ft $2,296; over 9,000 sq ft $3,221. Remodel plan check: $765.per project (one-time)2026-10-09
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 Solano County

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
County Business License (unincorporated area)only if it applies to youSolano County Department of Resource Management, Business License CoordinatorVaries — formula on the Solano County page1 year from issuance (County Code §14-24); renewed annually2026-10-09
Building Permit (commercial building or remodel)only if it applies to youSolano County Department of Resource Management, Building & Safety ServicesVaries — formula on the Solano County pageper project (one-time)2026-10-09

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 restaurant in Solano 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 restaurant in Solano 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. 7 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:

Special / Temporary Event Food Permits (Organizer and Booth): Event organizer: 2-5 booths $300; 6-10 booths $449; more than 10 booths $595; more than 20 booths $785; non-profit organizer $0. Food booth, single event (high / medium / low risk): $134 / $94 / $62. Food booth, seasonal (high / medium / low risk): $354 / $236 / $196. Applications or payments received less than 14 days before the event are assessed a 50% late fee.

Catering Registration / Host Facility Permit: Catering registration $526; out-of-county catering registration $380; host facility $420; catering registration - veteran exemption $0.

Retail Food Facility Health Permit: Food establishment, by floor area and risk (high / medium / low): under 300 sq ft $641 / $524 / $420; 301-1,000 sq ft $993 / $855 / $685; 1,001-3,000 sq ft $1,418 / $1,165 / $931; 3,001-6,000 sq ft $1,962 / $1,606 / $1,293; 6,001-40,000 sq ft $2,561 / $2,102 / $1,680; over 40,000 sq ft $2,863 / $2,347 / $1,876. Day care $561; public or private school $649; seasonal $356; vending machine site $220 plus $44 each additional machine; non-profit and veteran $0.

Food Facility Plan Check and Construction Inspection: New food facility plan check, by floor area: under 300 sq ft $1,160; 301-1,000 sq ft $1,690; 1,001-3,000 sq ft $1,946; 3,001-9,000 sq ft $2,296; over 9,000 sq ft $3,221. Remodel plan check: $765.

The other 3 variable fees belong to permits that apply to every type of business here; their formulas are set out on the Solano County permits page and the CA state page.

Which offices issue these permits in Solano County?

Permits for a restaurant in Solano County, CA come from 7 separate offices: Solano County Department of Resource Management, Business License Coordinator, Solano County Department of Resource Management, Environmental Health Division, Solano County Department of Resource Management, Building & Safety Services, 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 restaurant need in Solano County that other businesses do not?

Shared with other businesses in Solano County

  • Special / Temporary Event Food Permits (Organizer and Booth) — Solano County Department of Resource Management, Environmental Health Division, Event organizer: 2-5 booths $300; 6-10 booths $449; more than 10 booths $595; more than 20 booths $785; non-profit organizer $0. Food booth, single event (high / medium / low risk): $134 / $94 / $62. Food booth, seasonal (high / medium / low risk): $354 / $236 / $196. Applications or payments received less than 14 days before the event are assessed a 50% late fee., per event, or per season for seasonal permits. Also required for coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the food trucks page.
  • Catering Registration / Host Facility Permit — Solano County Department of Resource Management, Environmental Health Division, Catering registration $526; out-of-county catering registration $380; host facility $420; catering registration - veteran exemption $0., annual. Also required for coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
  • Retail Food Facility Health Permit — Solano County Department of Resource Management, Environmental Health Division, Food establishment, by floor area and risk (high / medium / low): under 300 sq ft $641 / $524 / $420; 301-1,000 sq ft $993 / $855 / $685; 1,001-3,000 sq ft $1,418 / $1,165 / $931; 3,001-6,000 sq ft $1,962 / $1,606 / $1,293; 6,001-40,000 sq ft $2,561 / $2,102 / $1,680; over 40,000 sq ft $2,863 / $2,347 / $1,876. Day care $561; public or private school $649; seasonal $356; vending machine site $220 plus $44 each additional machine; non-profit and veteran $0., annual. Also required for coffee shops, retail stores and childcare centres; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
  • Food Facility Plan Check and Construction Inspection — Solano County Department of Resource Management, Environmental Health Division, New food facility plan check, by floor area: under 300 sq ft $1,160; 301-1,000 sq ft $1,690; 1,001-3,000 sq ft $1,946; 3,001-9,000 sq ft $2,296; over 9,000 sq ft $3,221. Remodel plan check: $765., per project (one-time). Also required for coffee shops, retail stores and childcare centres; what it involves is set out on the childcare centres 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.

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

The closest match is a coffee shop, which shares 6 of these permits. A coffee shop needs Weighing and Measuring Device Registration, which a restaurant does not.

Permits particular to each business type in Solano County, CA, compared with a restaurant
BusinessIts own permitsShared with a restaurantOnly a restaurant needsOnly it needs
Coffee shops7601
Food trucks5421
Retail stores5421
Childcare centres3241
Auto repair shops1061
Contractors and trades1061
Fitness studios1061
Salons and barbers3063
Veterinary clinics1061

Sources

Sources for the permits shared with other businesses are listed with their explanations on the food trucks page, coffee shops page, retail stores page and childcare centres page. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the Solano County permits page and the CA state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.

    Related

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