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

Alcoholic Beverage Special Use Permit (Unincorporated St. Johns)

The state alcoholic beverage license is issued by DBPR's Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco; the county's part is zoning. Land Development Code Sec. 2.03.02 (Article II, June 2, 2026) states that alcohol beverage establishments may be permitted as a Special Use, reviewed under Part 9.03.00, and that, except for beer and wine vendors licensed under ss. 563.02(1)(a) and 564.02(1)(a), F.S., no vendor in unincorporated St. Johns County may maintain a place of business within 1,000 feet of an established school or church, measured property line to property line. Sec. 2.03.02.C exempts retail establishments that sell only malt beverages and wine under those licenses from the section, so they do not need this permit. Development Review Manual Sec. 18.01 places all special uses in Section 2.03 not on its Minor list, including alcohol, in Major Review, and the FY 27 schedule sets that at $760.00 plus the cost of advertising. Under Sec. 2.03.02.B the County Administrator may approve the transfer of a valid alcoholic beverage Special Use Permit for 2APS licenses (retail or bona fide restaurants) or 1COP and 2COP licenses (bona fide restaurants, indoor consumption only, in listed commercial districts), at $75.00 per hour with a one-hour minimum. Planning and Zoning: 4040 Lewis Speedway, (904) 209-0675.

Temporary Use Permit for Outdoor Sales and Markets (Unincorporated St. Johns)

Land Development Code Sec. 2.02.05 allows certain temporary uses in non-residential zoning districts that do not allow them by right. They include outdoor seasonal sales such as Christmas tree, pumpkin, plant and fresh produce sales (no more than two a year per parcel, up to 45 days each), and farmer markets, bazaars and similar events that primarily sell arts, crafts and local food products (up to three days per event). In the CI, CHT, CHI, CW and Planned Development districts where cited, outdoor display and sales vendors are allowed no more than once a month for up to three days, limited to products customary and incidental to the existing establishments on the site. The FY 27 Schedule of Fees and Services sets an administrative Temporary Use Permit at $190.00, including the fire review fee, and a temporary use that exceeds the Sec. 2.02.05 limits and needs a public hearing at $330.00 plus the cost of advertising. This applies in unincorporated St. Johns County. Planning and Zoning Division: 4040 Lewis Speedway, St. Augustine, (904) 209-0675.

Public Food Service Establishment License

Banded by seats, and each band is four separate charges added together — a basic fee, a capacity fee, an epidemiological fee and a HEP fee. 1 to 49 seats is $262; 50 to 149 is $273; 150 to 249 is $294; 250 to 349 is $315; 350 to 499 is $336; 500 or more is $357. On top of any of those, a first application or a change of ownership adds a $50 application fee, and a late renewal adds $50. A non-seating permanent establishment pays $242 and a mobile food dispensing vehicle $347 — a food truck costs more to license than all but the largest restaurant. Two things catch people: statute caps the aggregate license fee at $400 per establishment, but the $50 application and $50 delinquency fees sit outside that cap; and applying within six months of the annual renewal period halves the first year's fee, while applying earlier than that does not. A restaurant operating inside a hotel needs its own license.

Shared with other businesses in St Johns County

• Fire Marshal Permits: Kitchen Hood, Fire Suppression and Annual Operational Permits (Unincorporated St. Johns) — St. Johns County Fire Rescue, Fire Prevention, Per the Fire Department section of the FY 27 Schedule of Fees and Services (amended 09/15/2026): Permit Issuance Fee $26.00; Commercial Kitchen Exhaust Hoods $73.00; Fire Suppression System $75.00; annual permits for operations $60 a year per site for each listed activity, including flammable or combustible liquid storage, flammable finish application, and storage, handling or use of compressed gases; tents and membrane structures $60.00 per event. Starting work without a Fire Marshal permit costs double the normal application fee., per installation for hood and suppression permits; annual per site for operational permits; per event for tents. Also required for coffee shops, retail stores and auto repair shops; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
• Food Service Employee Training and Manager Certification — Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Division of Hotels and Restaurants, No fee, employee training 3 years; manager certification 5 years. Also required for coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.