16 permits · verified 2026-10-02
What permits do you need to open a restaurant in Chatham County Ga?
In short
A restaurant in Chatham County Ga, GA has 3 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 13 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division charges $110 one-time — $100 filing fee plus a $10 service charge for the articles of incorporation. 10 of the 16 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-10-02 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.
Permits particular to a restaurant in Chatham County Ga
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alcoholic Beverage Licenseonly if it applies to you | Chatham County Department of Building Safety & Regulatory Services, Occupational Tax Division | Application fees (non-refundable, §17-106): Beer $150, Wine $150, Liquor $300, Sunday Sales $100, GBI background check $45, newspaper ad $15, business-name change $25. Late-renewal penalty (renewal after Jan 31 requires full reapplication at 150% of the new-application fee): Beer $225, Wine $225, Liquor $450, Sunday Sales $150. Retail package sale: Beer $600, Wine $600, Liquor $2,500, combined Package Shop $3,700, Sunday package permit $100. Drink-for-consumption (pouring): Beer $600, Wine $600, Liquor $2,500, Sunday pouring $200. Wholesale distributor: Beer $1,500, Wine $1,500, Liquor $5,000; Distiller/Brewer/Manufacturer $5,000. Special Event (temporary) permit: $100/day plus $25 application, $15 newspaper ad, $45 GBI check; vendor permit $10/day; maximum 5 calendar days, not eligible more than once every 6 months per applicant. | annual, calendar year; the license expires December 31 | 2026-10-02 |
| Port Wentworth Excise Tax on Liquor by the Drinkonly if it applies to you | City of Port Wentworth | The City of Port Wentworth levies its own excise tax on licensees selling liquor by the drink inside city limits, under its own current schedule. The dollar figure is not restated here; confirm the current rate directly with the city. | per the City of Port Wentworth's own licensing cycle | 2026-10-02 |
| Food Service Permit | Georgia Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Section | $240–$1,050 a year, set by the county board of health — no state fee, floor or ceiling | the permit is valid until suspended or revoked, but counties bill an annual fee | 2026-09-03 |
| Certified Food Safety Manageronly if it applies to you | Georgia Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Section | No fee | set by the certifying organisation, not by Georgia | 2026-09-03 |
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 Chatham County Ga
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Occupational Tax Late-Renewal Penaltyonly if it applies to you | Chatham County Department of Building Safety & Regulatory Services, Occupational Tax Division | Varies — formula on the Chatham County Ga page | not applicable — this is a penalty tied to Record 1's annual tax, not a license term of its own | 2026-10-02 |
| Savannah Business Location Approvalonly if it applies to you | City of Savannah, Planning & Urban Design Department | Varies — formula on the Chatham County Ga page | per the City of Savannah's own licensing cycle | 2026-10-02 |
| Tybee Island Occupational Tax Certificate / Business Licenseonly if it applies to you | City of Tybee Island Business License Office | Varies — formula on the Chatham County Ga page | annual; licenses expire December 31 and must be renewed annually | 2026-10-02 |
| Pooler Business Licenseonly if it applies to you | City of Pooler | Varies — formula on the Chatham County Ga page | per the City of Pooler's own licensing cycle | 2026-10-02 |
| Occupational Tax Certificate | Chatham County Department of Building Safety & Regulatory Services, Occupational Tax Division | Varies — formula on the Chatham County Ga page | annual, calendar year; the certificate expires December 31 | 2026-10-02 |
| Building/Electrical/Plumbing/Mechanical Permit Feesonly if it applies to you | Chatham County Department of Building Safety & Regulatory Services, Permits & Inspections Division | Varies — formula on the Chatham County Ga page | per permit | 2026-10-02 |
| Garden City Occupational Tax Certificateonly if it applies to you | City of Garden City, Planning and Zoning / Occupational Tax Office | Varies — formula on the Chatham County Ga page | annual; the certificate expires December 31 | 2026-10-02 |
Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.
GA registrations that apply to every type of business
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sales and Use Tax Certificate of Registration | Georgia Department of Revenue, Taxpayer Services Division | No fee | no renewal — valid until cancelled, suspended or revoked | 2026-09-03 |
| General Business License — Georgia state position (local occupation tax certificate)only if it applies to you | Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division | No fee | set by the issuing city or county, usually annual | 2026-09-03 |
| Articles of Incorporationonly if it applies to you | Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division | $110 one-time — $100 filing fee plus a $10 service charge | no expiry, but an annual registration is due each year | 2026-09-03 |
| Articles of Organization (LLC)only if it applies to you | Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division | $110 one-time — $100 filing fee plus a $10 service charge | no expiry, but an annual registration is due each year | 2026-09-03 |
| Annual Registrationonly if it applies to you | Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division | $60 a year — $50 plus a $10 service charge; $40 for a nonprofit | annual — filed between 1 January and 1 April | 2026-09-03 |
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 Chatham County Ga?
There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 16 records listed for a restaurant in Chatham County Ga, GA, 3 apply to every business of this type and 13 are conditional. Adding every fee on the page together would overstate what most operators pay, because it would include permits they never need.
10 of the 16 are charged as a range or a formula set by the issuing agency, and 3 have no fee published at all. The ones particular to this business that vary:
Alcoholic Beverage License: Application fees (non-refundable, §17-106): Beer $150, Wine $150, Liquor $300, Sunday Sales $100, GBI background check $45, newspaper ad $15, business-name change $25. Late-renewal penalty (renewal after Jan 31 requires full reapplication at 150% of the new-application fee): Beer $225, Wine $225, Liquor $450, Sunday Sales $150. Retail package sale: Beer $600, Wine $600, Liquor $2,500, combined Package Shop $3,700, Sunday package permit $100. Drink-for-consumption (pouring): Beer $600, Wine $600, Liquor $2,500, Sunday pouring $200. Wholesale distributor: Beer $1,500, Wine $1,500, Liquor $5,000; Distiller/Brewer/Manufacturer $5,000. Special Event (temporary) permit: $100/day plus $25 application, $15 newspaper ad, $45 GBI check; vendor permit $10/day; maximum 5 calendar days, not eligible more than once every 6 months per applicant.
Port Wentworth Excise Tax on Liquor by the Drink: The City of Port Wentworth levies its own excise tax on licensees selling liquor by the drink inside city limits, under its own current schedule. The dollar figure is not restated here; confirm the current rate directly with the city.
Food Service Permit: $240–$1,050 a year, set by the county board of health — no state fee, floor or ceiling
The other 7 variable fees belong to permits that apply to every type of business here; their formulas are set out on the Chatham County Ga permits page and the GA state page.
Which offices issue these permits in Chatham County Ga?
Permits for a restaurant in Chatham County Ga, GA come from 10 separate offices: Chatham County Department of Building Safety & Regulatory Services, Occupational Tax Division, City of Savannah, Planning & Urban Design Department, City of Tybee Island Business License Office, City of Pooler, Chatham County Department of Building Safety & Regulatory Services, Permits & Inspections Division, City of Garden City, Planning and Zoning / Occupational Tax Office, City of Port Wentworth, Georgia Department of Revenue, Taxpayer Services Division, Georgia Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Section, Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division. No single office issues them all, which is why an opening means filing in several places rather than one.
- Chatham County Department of Building Safety & Regulatory Services, Occupational Tax DivisionIssues 3 permits on this page: Occupational Tax Late-Renewal Penalty, Occupational Tax Certificate, Alcoholic Beverage License1117 Eisenhower Drive, Suite D, Savannah, GA 31406 (P.O. Box 8161, Savannah, GA 31412-8161) · (912) 201-4300buildingsafety.chathamcountyga.gov/LicensingDivision/BusinessTax
- City of Savannah, Planning & Urban Design DepartmentIssues 1 permit on this page: Savannah Business Location Approvalsavannahga.gov/1628/Business-Location-Approvals
- City of Tybee Island Business License OfficeIssues 1 permit on this page: Tybee Island Occupational Tax Certificate / Business Licensewww.cityoftybee.org/447/Business-Licenses
- City of PoolerIssues 1 permit on this page: Pooler Business Licensewww.pooler-ga.gov/resources/business-licenses
- Chatham County Department of Building Safety & Regulatory Services, Permits & Inspections DivisionIssues 1 permit on this page: Building/Electrical/Plumbing/Mechanical Permit Fees1117 Eisenhower Drive, Suite D, Savannah, GA 31406 · (912) 201-4300buildingsafety.chathamcountyga.gov/PermitsInspections/WhenPermitsRequired
- City of Garden City, Planning and Zoning / Occupational Tax OfficeIssues 1 permit on this page: Garden City Occupational Tax Certificatewww.gardencity-ga.gov/Business/Occupational-Taxes-Licensing
- City of Port WentworthIssues 1 permit on this page: Port Wentworth Excise Tax on Liquor by the Drinkwww.portwentworthga.gov/bus-excisetaxdrink
- Georgia Department of Revenue, Taxpayer Services DivisionIssues 1 permit on this page: Sales and Use Tax Certificate of Registration1800 Century Boulevard NE, Atlanta, GA 30345-3205 · (877) 423-6711gtc.dor.ga.gov
- Georgia Department of Public Health, Environmental Health SectionIssues 2 permits on this page: Food Service Permit, Certified Food Safety Manager200 Piedmont Avenue SE, Atlanta, GA 30334 · (404) 657-2700dph.georgia.gov/environmental-health/food-service
- Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations DivisionIssues 4 permits on this page: General Business License — Georgia state position (local occupation tax certificate), Articles of Incorporation, Articles of Organization (LLC), Annual Registration2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SE, Suite 313, Floyd West Tower, Atlanta, GA 30334-1530 · (404) 656-2817ecorp.sos.ga.gov
What does a restaurant need in Chatham County Ga that other businesses do not?
Shared with other businesses in Chatham County Ga
- Alcoholic Beverage License — Chatham County Department of Building Safety & Regulatory Services, Occupational Tax Division, Application fees (non-refundable, §17-106): Beer $150, Wine $150, Liquor $300, Sunday Sales $100, GBI background check $45, newspaper ad $15, business-name change $25. Late-renewal penalty (renewal after Jan 31 requires full reapplication at 150% of the new-application fee): Beer $225, Wine $225, Liquor $450, Sunday Sales $150. Retail package sale: Beer $600, Wine $600, Liquor $2,500, combined Package Shop $3,700, Sunday package permit $100. Drink-for-consumption (pouring): Beer $600, Wine $600, Liquor $2,500, Sunday pouring $200. Wholesale distributor: Beer $1,500, Wine $1,500, Liquor $5,000; Distiller/Brewer/Manufacturer $5,000. Special Event (temporary) permit: $100/day plus $25 application, $15 newspaper ad, $45 GBI check; vendor permit $10/day; maximum 5 calendar days, not eligible more than once every 6 months per applicant., annual, calendar year; the license expires December 31. Also required for coffee shops and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
- Port Wentworth Excise Tax on Liquor by the Drink — City of Port Wentworth, The City of Port Wentworth levies its own excise tax on licensees selling liquor by the drink inside city limits, under its own current schedule. The dollar figure is not restated here; confirm the current rate directly with the city., per the City of Port Wentworth's own licensing cycle. Also required for coffee shops and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
- Food Service Permit — Georgia Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Section, $240–$1,050 a year, set by the county board of health — no state fee, floor or ceiling, the permit is valid until suspended or revoked, but counties bill an annual fee. Also required for coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
- Certified Food Safety Manager — Georgia Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Section, No fee, set by the certifying organisation, not by Georgia. Also required for coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the food trucks page.
The other 7 local permits in the tables apply to every type of business in Chatham County Ga, GA; what each one involves is set out on the Chatham County Ga permits page. The 5 state-level registrations apply to every type of business across GA and are covered on the GA state page.
How does a restaurant compare with other businesses in Chatham County Ga?
A restaurant and a coffee shop in Chatham County Ga, GA need exactly the same 4 permits beyond the ones every business needs.
| Business | Its own permits | Shared with a restaurant | Only a restaurant needs | Only it needs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee shops | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Food trucks | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Retail stores | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Auto repair shops | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| Childcare centres | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| Contractors and trades | 3 | 0 | 4 | 3 |
| Fitness studios | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Salons and barbers | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| Veterinary clinics | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
Sources
Sources for the permits shared with other businesses are listed with their explanations on the retail stores page, coffee shops page and food trucks page. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the Chatham County Ga permits page and the GA 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.