What permits do you need to open a coffee shop in Black Hawk County?

Retail Alcohol License — Board of Supervisors Approval (premises outside city limits)

Under Iowa Code 123.32(1)(a), an application for a retail alcohol license for premises located outside the corporate limits of a city is filed with the county board of supervisors, so in unincorporated Black Hawk County the Board of Supervisors is the local authority. Under 123.32(2) the local authority "shall either approve or disapprove the issuance of a retail alcohol license, shall endorse its approval or disapproval on the application, and shall forward the application with the necessary fee and bond, if required, to the department." The county's inspection report form for beer and liquor permits, linked from the Auditor's Applications page, is marked for new or renewal applications and states: "THIS FORM MUST BE COMPLETED BEFORE APPLICATION WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE BLACK HAWK COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS"; it is signed off by the Black Hawk County Health Department, a fire inspection and the Sheriff before Board action. Iowa Code 123.36 sets the fee, which for premises outside a city equals that of the nearest incorporated city as determined by the U.S. Postal Service address. Under 123.36(2) the department "shall remit to the appropriate local authority a sum equal to sixty-five percent of the fees collected for each class "B", class "C", or class "F" license except special class "C" licenses or class "E" licenses" and "a sum equal to seventy-five percent of the fees collected for each special class "C" license"; fees for each class "E" license "shall be credited to the beer and liquor control fund". Under 123.36(3), "no portion of the surcharges collected under this subsection shall be remitted to the local authority." A business inside a city applies to that city.

Food Establishment License

Iowa bands this fee by gross food and beverage sales rather than by seating capacity, which is the opposite of what many states do: under $100,000 a year in sales costs $150, $100,000 to under $500,000 costs $300, and $500,000 or more costs $400. A brand-new establishment with no prior-year figures to report is charged the top band by default until it has a full year on file. A mobile food unit is a flat $250 regardless of sales; a single temporary event is $50, and a license covering multiple non-concurrent events statewide in one year is $200; vending machines are $50 for the first and $10 for each additional one. Ten local health departments, covering roughly a third of Iowa's counties between Black Hawk, Cerro Gordo, Dubuque, Johnson, Lee, Linn, Scott, Siouxland and Washington County, run their own delegated inspection programmes and keep the fees they collect rather than remitting them to the state — but the fee schedule itself is set statewide by statute, so the amount does not change by moving between a state-run and a delegated county.

Shared with other businesses in Black Hawk County

• Retail Cigarette, Tobacco, Nicotine and Vapor Permit — County Approval (outside city limits) — Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors and County Auditor, $50 statutory amount under Iowa Code 453A.13(3)(b)(1), "In places outside any city, fifty dollars", for a permit granted in July, August or September; three-fourths if granted October to December, one-half January to March and one-fourth April to June (453A.13(3)(c)); paid to the Iowa Department of Revenue, expires June 30 each year (Iowa Code 453A.13(3)(a)). Also required for retail stores and restaurants; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.
• Food Establishment Plan Review and Pre-Opening Inspection (Black Hawk County Public Health) — Black Hawk County Public Health, The food establishment license fee is the statewide statutory amount held in the Iowa state record and is paid with the license application to Black Hawk County Public Health; a separate plan review fee is not published on Black Hawk County Public Health's food establishment pages. Contact Environmental Health (319-291-2413) for the current amount., plans submitted 30 days before construction or remodel; pre-opening inspection and approval before the business opens. Also required for restaurants and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.
• Certified Food Protection Manager — Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing, No fee, not stated in Iowa's own rule text. Also required for restaurants and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.