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14 permits · verified 2026-10-09

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

In short

A retail store in Solano County, CA has 4 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 10 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). 6 of the 14 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 retail store in Solano County

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
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
Weighing and Measuring Device Registrationonly if it applies to youSolano County Agricultural Commissioner / Sealer of Weights and MeasuresAnnual business location fee $120, plus per device: computing scale under 100 lb capacity $25; scale over 100 lb and under 2,000 lb capacity $50; jewelry, prescription or Class II scale $80; other commercial weighing and measuring devices not specifically itemized $26. A state administrative fee of $2.20 per device applies to scales under 2,000 lb and the other device types the schedule lists (B&P §12241).calendar year, January 1 to December 31 (County Code §32-13)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 retail store in Solano County?

There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 14 records listed for a retail store in Solano County, CA, 4 apply to every business of this type and 10 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 14 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:

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.

Weighing and Measuring Device Registration: Annual business location fee $120, plus per device: computing scale under 100 lb capacity $25; scale over 100 lb and under 2,000 lb capacity $50; jewelry, prescription or Class II scale $80; other commercial weighing and measuring devices not specifically itemized $26. A state administrative fee of $2.20 per device applies to scales under 2,000 lb and the other device types the schedule lists (B&P §12241).

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 retail store in Solano County, CA come from 8 separate offices: Solano County Department of Resource Management, Business License Coordinator, Solano County Department of Resource Management, Environmental Health Division, Solano County Agricultural Commissioner / Sealer of Weights and Measures, 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 retail store need in Solano County that other businesses do not?

Retail Food Facility Health Permit

A restaurant, coffee shop, market or other retail food facility needs an annual health permit from Solano County Environmental Health, which states that it 'has jurisdiction in the cities of Benicia, Dixon, Fairfield, Rio Vista, Suisun City, Vacaville, Vallejo, and surrounding unincorporated areas' — so the permit comes from the county whether the business is in a city or not. The fee is set by floor area and by the facility's risk category; the figures are from Exhibit III-A to Resolution 2026-78, adopted by the Board of Supervisors on 28 April 2026 and effective July 1, 2026, and the same amounts appear on the county's published Environmental Health Fee Schedule (FY 2026-27). A child care centre preparing food falls under the separate Day Care line ($561). A reinspection is billed at $334 under the same schedule.

Weighing and Measuring Device Registration

A shop or coffee shop that sells goods by weight on a commercial scale registers each device with the Solano County Sealer of Weights and Measures; County Code §32-13 makes it 'unlawful to use or operate a weighing or measuring device for commercial purposes in the county without paying the annual or biennial device registration fee', and the registration year runs January 1 to December 31. A business that sells nothing by weight or measure has no device to register. Under §32-12, payment more than 60 days late incurs a 100% penalty. The amounts are from Exhibit I to Resolution 2026-76 (adopted 28 April 2026, effective July 1, 2026) and the Agricultural Commissioner's FY 26/27 fee schedule; they equal the maximum amounts Business and Professions Code §12240 allows a county to charge.

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 Solano County

  • 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 restaurants, coffee shops and childcare centres; what it involves is set out on the childcare centres 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 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 retail store compare with other businesses in Solano County?

The closest match is a coffee shop, which shares 5 of these permits. A coffee shop needs Special / Temporary Event Food Permits (Organizer and Booth) and Catering Registration / Host Facility Permit, which a retail store does not.

Permits particular to each business type in Solano County, CA, compared with a retail store
BusinessIts own permitsShared with a retail storeOnly a retail store needsOnly it needs
Coffee shops7502
Restaurants6412
Childcare centres3231
Food trucks5233
Auto repair shops1051
Contractors and trades1051
Fitness studios1051
Salons and barbers3053
Veterinary clinics1051

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 childcare centres page and food trucks 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.

  1. Resolution 2026-78 and Exhibit III-A — Environmental Health feesSolano County Board of Supervisors · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  2. Solano County Environmental Health Fee Schedule, Effective July 1, 2026Solano County Department of Resource Management · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  3. Environmental HealthSolano County Department of Resource Management · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  4. Board of Supervisors Minute Order, 28 April 2026 — FY 2026-27 user fees (File 26-214)Solano County Board of Supervisors · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  5. Resolution 2026-76 and Exhibit I — Agriculture / Weights and Measures feesSolano County Board of Supervisors · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  6. Solano County Code, Chapter 32 — Weighing and Measuring DevicesCounty of Solano / eCode360 · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  7. Agricultural / Weights Measures Fees FY 26/27Solano County Agricultural Commissioner · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  8. California Business and Professions Code §12240California Legislative Information · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  9. 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.