Commercial Compliance Hub
Check requirements

16 permits · verified 2026-10-14

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

In short

A restaurant 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 restaurant 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 restaurant 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 restaurant 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 restaurant 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 restaurant need in Johnson County Ia that other businesses do not?

Retail Alcohol License: Board of Supervisors Approval (outside city limits, Johnson County)

Under Iowa Code §123.32(1)(a), an application for a retail alcohol license (other than a class "D" license) is filed "with the board of supervisors if the premises for which the license is sought are located outside the corporate limits of a city"; under §123.32(2) the local authority approves or disapproves it and forwards it to the state. Johnson County Code Article 4:2 adds a local review: the application goes first to the County Sheriff and then to the County Attorney, who each investigate whether the applicant is of good moral character and recommend approval or disapproval in writing before it reaches the Board of Supervisors, with a memorandum of explanation for any disapproval; if no written recommendation is made within five working days, the application is deemed approved. As a further condition of Board approval, the applicant must consent in writing on the application that the fire, sheriff and health departments, the County Attorney and the Zoning Administrator may enter the premises without a warrant to inspect for violations. The Auditor's Alcohol & Tobacco Licensing page states that the Auditor processes these applications, in conjunction with the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division, for premises outside any city limits, and that the license must be posted at the premises in full public view. A business inside a city applies to that city council.

Cigarette, Tobacco, Nicotine and Vapor Retail Permit (outside city limits, Johnson County)

A shop, convenience store, restaurant or coffee shop outside city limits in Johnson County that sells cigarettes, tobacco, alternative nicotine or vapor products needs a retail permit approved by the Johnson County Board of Supervisors. Iowa Code §453A.13(2)(a) states that county boards of supervisors may approve retail permit applications for places of business in their counties outside the corporate limits of cities, and that on approval "the department shall issue the permit to the applicant on behalf of the city or county"; the department is the Iowa Department of Revenue, and §453A.47A(6) applies the same approval to tobacco products and vapor products retail permits. The Auditor's Alcohol & Tobacco Licensing page states that the Auditor processes these permit applications for establishments outside city limits. The fee is the statutory amount, not a county fee: $50 outside any city when granted in July, August or September, and three-fourths, one-half or one-fourth of that if granted in the following quarters (§453A.13(3)(c)); fees are paid to the department, and §453A.13(5) states that applications and associated fees shall be submitted to the department electronically. Every permit expires on June 30. A business inside a city applies to that city.

Certified Food Protection Manager

No state fee, because Iowa runs no certification programme of its own — the credential comes from an accredited private provider at that provider's price, and the state rule addresses only who must hold one, not what it costs. A single certified food protection manager covers an establishment, and a newly licensed facility has six months from licensure to comply. Several categories are exempt outright: an establishment selling only prepackaged food, a temporary or farmers market establishment, one that prepares no food at all, and one selling only commercially prepared items that need no temperature control for safety. This is a manager-level requirement rather than a card required of every employee — Iowa's rule addresses only the person in charge.

Shared with other businesses in Johnson County Ia

  • Food Establishment License (issued through Johnson County Public Health) — 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.", annual, under the state food licensing rules. Also required for coffee shops, food trucks and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
  • Food Establishment License — Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing, $150 a year for gross sales under $100,000, rising to $300 and then $400 as sales climb, annual. Also required for coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops 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 restaurant compare with other businesses in Johnson County Ia?

A restaurant and a coffee shop 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 restaurant
BusinessIts own permitsShared with a restaurantOnly a restaurant needsOnly it needs
Coffee shops5500
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 coffee shops 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 §123.32, Action by local authoritiesIowa Legislature · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-14
  2. Johnson County Code of Ordinances 2024, Volume One (adopted September 19, 2024; effective October 3, 2024), Article 4:2Johnson County, Iowa · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-14
  3. Alcohol & Tobacco Licensing pageJohnson County, Iowa, Auditor · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-14
  4. Iowa Code §453A.13, Permits; fees; expirationIowa Legislature · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-14
  5. Iowa Code §453A.47A, Retailers — permits — fees — penalties (Iowa Code 2026)Iowa Legislature · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-14
  6. Iowa Administrative Code 481, chapter 31 — the certified food protection manager requirement and its exemptionsIowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-04

Related

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