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

Food Establishment License, including mobile units (Eastern Idaho Public Health)

Restaurants, coffee shops, food trucks and stores that sell time- or temperature-controlled food in Bonneville County are licensed by Eastern Idaho Public Health, the district health department for the county; this is a district license, not a county government one. EIPH's Food Licensing page states that each food establishment serving or selling such food "must be licensed prior to opening". The district's fee table lists $200.00 for a food establishment, $250.00 where two or more licenses are on one premises or under a common owner, $80.00 for an intermittent mobile, $100.00 for a mobile with a commissary and $80.00 for each additional mobile, plus $100.00 for plan review and the preoperational inspection of a new establishment. Late licensing costs $35.00 within 15 days and $70.00 after 15 days, and reinstating a license costs $18.00. The figures are those of Eastern Idaho Public Health's Environmental Health fee table, a 2026 schedule headed "Effective 05/01/26", published from the district's Fees page; that page states that the district's Board of Health, "under the authority granted by Idaho Code 39-414 (1), 39-414 (11), 39-416, and Administrative Rules IDAPA 41.02.01, sets the following fee schedules based upon the actual cost of providing the services." Contact Eastern Idaho Public Health, 1250 Hollipark Drive, Idaho Falls, ID 83401, (208) 522-0310.

County Liquor-by-the-Drink License

A bar or restaurant serving liquor by the drink holds a county liquor license from the Clerk alongside its state liquor license. The Clerk's Beer and Alcohol License page lists the fee as "Liquor License (includes wine)-$187.50"; that is the county fee only, separate from the state license fee. Bonneville County Code 111.016 makes it unlawful to sell or dispense liquor by the drink "on any premises in the county without first obtaining all licenses as required by law", and chapter 111 has the Commissioners set the annual fee by resolution. Idaho Code 23-916 is the statute under which counties and cities license liquor-by-the-drink premises. The Clerk's Beer and Alcohol License page states: "To obtain a County license, the applicant must have received a State Retail Alcohol Beverage License, and have it in their possession", requires a copy of that state license with a completed application, and states that "You must appear in-person at the Bonneville County Clerk's office to complete the processing of your request." It also states that the licenses "are good for one year, and they expire on September 30th of every year." Contact the Bonneville County Clerk's office, 605 N Capital Ave., Idaho Falls, ID 83402, (208) 529-1350, ext. 1350; the application is completed in person at the Clerk's office.

Alcohol Beverage Catering Permit (events outside city limits)

A licensed restaurant or bar that serves alcohol at an off-site event obtains an alcohol beverage catering permit. Idaho Code 23-934A sends the application "to the city within which the liquor, beer or wine is to be served, or if not within a city then to the county", so the Bonneville County Clerk issues the permit for events outside city limits; the permit is valid only within the issuing jurisdiction. The statute sets a non-refundable filing fee of twenty dollars for each day the permit is in effect, and the Clerk's Catering Permit page states: "The cost for a catering permit is $20.00 per day." That page also states that the permit "can only be issued for up to five (5) consecutive days", that the state alcohol license must be in good standing, and that "Applications must be received at least ten (10) days prior to the event"; the applicant then comes in person to the Clerk's office for processing and payment, bringing the state alcohol license. Contact the Bonneville County Clerk's office, 605 N Capital Ave., Idaho Falls, ID 83402, (208) 529-1350, ext. 1350; the application is completed in person at the Clerk's office.

Shared with other businesses in Bonneville County

• County Retail Beer License — Bonneville County Clerk, Auditor and Recorder, County license fee, as published on the Clerk's Beer and Alcohol License page: beer, draft, bottled, canned and retail, $100.00; beer, bottled or canned to be consumed on-premises, $75.00; beer, bottled or canned not to be consumed on-premises, $25.00. This is the county fee only; the state retail license is a separate license with its own fee., one year; expires September 30 of every year (Clerk's Beer and Alcohol License page). Also required for retail stores and coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
• County Retail Wine and Wine-by-the-Glass License — Bonneville County Clerk, Auditor and Recorder, County license fee, as published on the Clerk's Beer and Alcohol License page: wine, retail, $100.00; wine, by the glass, $100.00. This is the county fee only; the state wine license is separate., one year; expires September 30 of every year (Clerk's Beer and Alcohol License page). Also required for retail stores; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
• Temporary / Intermittent Food License (Eastern Idaho Public Health) — Eastern Idaho Public Health, Eastern Idaho Public Health temporary food licensing fees (fee table headed "Effective 05/01/26"): operating 1 day $35.00; operating 2 or 3 days $45.00; operating 4 or more days or multiple events $80.00., per event or series of events: 1 day, 2 or 3 days, or 4 or more days or multiple events (no more than 14 consecutive days, per the EIPH application). Also required for food trucks and coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the food trucks page.
• Food Establishment License — Central District Health, $200–$250 a year, set by whichever of seven independent health districts covers the address, annual — every food license in Idaho expires 31 December, with renewal due by 1 December. Also required for coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the food trucks page.
• Food Safety Exam or Certified Food Protection Manager — Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Food Protection Program, No fee, 5 years for the state exam certificate. Also required for coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the food trucks page.