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16 permits · verified 2026-10-14

What permits do you need to open a coffee shop in Johnson County Ia?

In short

A coffee shop in Johnson County Ia, IA 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. Johnson County Planning, Development and Sustainability charges $250 per site plan review application, including Administrator-approved site plans, as published on the county's PDS Fee Schedule page for the site plan review (unincorporated johnson county). 7 of the 16 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-10-14 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.

Permits particular to a coffee shop in Johnson County Ia

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Food Establishment License (issued through Johnson County Public Health)Johnson County Public HealthThe license fee is the state amount set by Iowa Code §137F.6 by establishment type and annual gross food sales (recorded on the Iowa state page). Johnson County Public Health's food establishment application states: "There is no fee for plan review."annual, under the state food licensing rules2026-10-14
Retail Alcohol License: Board of Supervisors Approval (outside city limits, Johnson County)only if it applies to youJohnson County Board of Supervisors (applications processed by the County Auditor)No county amount is published in County Code Article 4:2 or on the Auditor's Alcohol & Tobacco Licensing page. The Board endorses its approval or disapproval and forwards the application with the necessary fee and bond to the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division (Iowa Code §123.32(2)); the license fee is the state fee set under Iowa Code chapter 123.per license application or renewal; the license term is set by the state2026-10-14
Cigarette, Tobacco, Nicotine and Vapor Retail Permit (outside city limits, Johnson County)only if it applies to youJohnson County Board of Supervisors (applications processed by the County Auditor)Statutory amount under Iowa Code §453A.13(3)(b)-(c) for a retail permit in places outside any city: $50 if granted in July, August or September; three-fourths ($37.50) if granted in October, November or December; one-half ($25.00) if granted in January, February or March; one-fourth ($12.50) if granted in April, May or June. Paid to the Iowa Department of Revenue (§453A.13(3)(a)). Iowa Code §453A.47A(7) sets the same $50 amount outside any city for a tobacco products and vapor products retail permit.expires June 30 each year (Iowa Code §453A.13(3)(a))2026-10-14
Food Establishment LicenseIowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing$150 a year for gross sales under $100,000, rising to $300 and then $400 as sales climbannual2026-09-04
Certified Food Protection Manageronly if it applies to youIowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and LicensingNo feenot stated in Iowa's own rule text2026-09-04

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 Johnson County Ia

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Electrical, Plumbing and Mechanical Permits (Johnson County Planning, Development and Sustainability)only if it applies to youJohnson County Planning, Development and SustainabilityVaries — formula on the Johnson County Ia pageas for building permits: work must begin within 180 days of issuance; written 180-day extensions may be granted (Building Permits FAQ)2026-10-14
Site Plan Review (unincorporated Johnson County)only if it applies to youJohnson County Planning, Development and Sustainability$250 per site plan review application, including Administrator-approved site plans, as published on the county's PDS Fee Schedule pageper project2026-10-14
Building Permit (Johnson County Planning, Development and Sustainability)only if it applies to youJohnson County Planning, Development and SustainabilityVaries — formula on the Johnson County Ia pagework must begin within 180 days of issuance and may not be suspended or abandoned for more than 180 days; the building official may grant written extensions of 180 days (Building Permits FAQ)2026-10-14
Change of Occupancy Permit (Johnson County Planning, Development and Sustainability)only if it applies to youJohnson County Planning, Development and Sustainability$50 per change of occupancy permit, as published on the county's Building Permit Fee Schedule page; the certificate of occupancy issued after inspection is listed there at no chargeper change of occupancy; a new certificate of occupancy is issued after the inspection is approved2026-10-14
Conditional Use Permit (Board of Adjustment, unincorporated Johnson County)only if it applies to youJohnson County Planning, Development and Sustainability$250 per conditional use permit application to the Board of Adjustment, as published on the county's PDS Fee Schedule page ($50 more for any modification after publication that requires republication)per application2026-10-14
Private Sewage Disposal (Septic) Construction Permit and Commercial/Industrial Use Permitonly if it applies to youJohnson County Public HealthVaries — formula on the Johnson County Ia pageconstruction permit expires 1 year from issue, with one extension of up to 1 year on request (§4.06); commercial/industrial use permit renewed annually (§4.09(A))2026-10-14

Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.

IA 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
Certificate of Organization (LLC)only if it applies to youIowa Secretary of State, Business Services Division$50 one-time filingperpetual, but a biennial report is due every two years2026-09-04
Articles of Incorporationonly if it applies to youIowa Secretary of State, Business Services Division$50 one-time filingperpetual, but a biennial report is due every two years2026-09-04
Sales Tax PermitIowa Department of RevenueNo feeno expiration — stays effective until cancelled or revoked2026-09-04
General Business License — Iowa positiononly if it applies to youIowa Economic Development Authority, Business License Information CenterNo feenot applicable2026-09-04
Biennial Reportonly if it applies to youIowa Secretary of State, Business Services DivisionVaries — formula on the IA pagean LLC files between 1 January and 1 April of every odd year; a corporation files in the same window of every even year2026-09-04

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 coffee shop in Johnson County Ia?

There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 16 records listed for a coffee shop in Johnson County Ia, IA, 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.

Of the 3 that always apply, 1 carry a flat fee, coming to $150.00. That is a floor, not a total. 7 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:

Food Establishment License (issued through Johnson County Public Health): The license fee is the state amount set by Iowa Code §137F.6 by establishment type and annual gross food sales (recorded on the Iowa state page). Johnson County Public Health's food establishment application states: "There is no fee for plan review."

Retail Alcohol License: Board of Supervisors Approval (outside city limits, Johnson County): No county amount is published in County Code Article 4:2 or on the Auditor's Alcohol & Tobacco Licensing page. The Board endorses its approval or disapproval and forwards the application with the necessary fee and bond to the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division (Iowa Code §123.32(2)); the license fee is the state fee set under Iowa Code chapter 123.

Cigarette, Tobacco, Nicotine and Vapor Retail Permit (outside city limits, Johnson County): Statutory amount under Iowa Code §453A.13(3)(b)-(c) for a retail permit in places outside any city: $50 if granted in July, August or September; three-fourths ($37.50) if granted in October, November or December; one-half ($25.00) if granted in January, February or March; one-fourth ($12.50) if granted in April, May or June. Paid to the Iowa Department of Revenue (§453A.13(3)(a)). Iowa Code §453A.47A(7) sets the same $50 amount outside any city for a tobacco products and vapor products retail permit.

The other 4 variable fees belong to permits that apply to every type of business here; their formulas are set out on the Johnson County Ia permits page and the IA state page.

Which offices issue these permits in Johnson County Ia?

Permits for a coffee shop in Johnson County Ia, IA come from 7 separate offices: Johnson County Planning, Development and Sustainability, Johnson County Public Health, Johnson County Board of Supervisors (applications processed by the County Auditor), Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing, Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services Division, Iowa Department of Revenue, Iowa Economic Development Authority, Business License Information Center. No single office issues them all, which is why an opening means filing in several places rather than one.

What does a coffee shop need in Johnson County Ia that other businesses do not?

Food Establishment License (issued through Johnson County Public Health)

Iowa DIAL's Food Inspection Jurisdictions page lists Johnson County Public Health (JCPH) as the local health department that "Serves Johnson County," so restaurants, coffee shops, food trucks and grocery or convenience stores in Johnson County apply to JCPH for the state food establishment license. JCPH's application states that Iowa law prohibits a food establishment from opening or operating until a license has first been obtained from the appropriate regulatory authority, and that completed applications and documents must be submitted at least 30 days before the anticipated opening date. JCPH's Restaurant Licenses page distinguishes a food service establishment license (on-site consumption: restaurants, cafeterias, bars) from a food retail establishment license (off-site consumption: grocery stores, convenience stores with only prepackaged food), and says dual licensing may be required for businesses such as coffee shops that sell for both; it also asks applicants to check with their city government or fire officials for any additional permits or inspections. Plan submission is required for new construction and remodels, and the application states that there is no fee for plan review. The license fee is the state amount in Iowa Code §137F.6, recorded on the Iowa state page. Iowa's state licensing system changes on 20 October 2026; JCPH (319-356-6040) gives the current application route.

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 Johnson County Ia

  • Retail Alcohol License: Board of Supervisors Approval (outside city limits, Johnson County) — Johnson County Board of Supervisors (applications processed by the County Auditor), No county amount is published in County Code Article 4:2 or on the Auditor's Alcohol & Tobacco Licensing page. The Board endorses its approval or disapproval and forwards the application with the necessary fee and bond to the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division (Iowa Code §123.32(2)); the license fee is the state fee set under Iowa Code chapter 123., per license application or renewal; the license term is set by the state. Also required for restaurants, retail stores and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.
  • Cigarette, Tobacco, Nicotine and Vapor Retail Permit (outside city limits, Johnson County) — Johnson County Board of Supervisors (applications processed by the County Auditor), Statutory amount under Iowa Code §453A.13(3)(b)-(c) for a retail permit in places outside any city: $50 if granted in July, August or September; three-fourths ($37.50) if granted in October, November or December; one-half ($25.00) if granted in January, February or March; one-fourth ($12.50) if granted in April, May or June. Paid to the Iowa Department of Revenue (§453A.13(3)(a)). Iowa Code §453A.47A(7) sets the same $50 amount outside any city for a tobacco products and vapor products retail permit., 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.
  • 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.

The other 6 local permits in the tables apply to every type of business in Johnson County Ia, IA; what each one involves is set out on the Johnson County Ia permits page. The 5 state-level registrations apply to every type of business across IA and are covered on the IA state page.

How does a coffee shop compare with other businesses in Johnson County Ia?

A coffee shop and a restaurant in Johnson County Ia, IA need exactly the same 5 permits beyond the ones every business needs.

Permits particular to each business type in Johnson County Ia, IA, compared with a coffee shop
BusinessIts own permitsShared with a coffee shopOnly a coffee shop needsOnly it needs
Restaurants5500
Food trucks4410
Retail stores4321
Auto repair shops1051
Childcare centres1051
Contractors and trades4054
Fitness studios3053
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 restaurants page. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the Johnson County Ia permits page and the IA state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.

  1. Iowa Code section 137F.6 — the food establishment license fee schedule, banded by gross salesIowa Legislature · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-04
  2. Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing — the ten local health departments with delegated food inspection authorityIowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-04
  3. Restaurant Licenses page (food service and retail establishment licensing)Johnson County Public Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-14
  4. Food Establishment License Application packet (mobile food unit), with Plan Review ApplicationJohnson County Public Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-14

Related

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