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

Alcohol Beverage Catering Permit (events outside city limits)

Idaho Code 23-934A authorizes an alcohol beverage catering permit for a licensee to serve and sell liquor by the drink, beer or wine at a festival or convention for up to five consecutive days, with one possible extension, or at a party for up to two consecutive days, limited to the beverages the licensee's own license covers. Applications are made "to the city within which the liquor, beer or wine is to be served, or if not within a city then to the county", and the statute sets "a filing fee in the amount of twenty dollars ($20.00) for each day the permit is to be effective", which is not refunded; a permit is valid only within the issuing jurisdiction. The Clerk's Alcohol Beverage Licenses page states that state and county beverage licenses must be current, that a copy of the state license is presented with the application, that "If the catered event is within city limits, you must get a catering permit from that specific city, not the county", and that "The fee for a catering permit is $20 per day." The county's Catering Permit form totals fees at "$20/day" and asks for the state license and premise numbers, the event dates, hours and location, and the alcohol to be served, which must match the state license. Contact the Kootenai County Clerk - Recorder's Office, 451 Government Way, P.O. Box 9000, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83816-9000, (208) 446-1480, kcro@kcgov.us; annual licenses can also be applied for online at recorderBL.kcgov.us.

County Alcohol Beverage License (beer, retail wine, wine by the drink, liquor by the drink)

Kootenai County Code 3-1-2 makes it unlawful to sell beer, wine at retail or by the drink, or liquor by the drink in Kootenai County without a county-issued license for that beverage, and section 3-1-2 C states: "A county license shall be required regardless of whether the licensee is located within or without the corporate limits of any city." Section 3-1-4 applies the county fees "whether the licensee is located within or without the corporate limits of any city": as set in that ordinance section, $25.00 for bottled or canned beer consumed off the premises only, $75.00 for bottled or canned beer consumed on or off the premises, $100.00 for draught beer, $100.00 for retail wine and $100.00 for wine by the drink, while the county fee for liquor by the drink is "25 percent of the amount of the annual license fee collected by the state"; the Clerk's Beverage License Fees sheet lists the same figures and "25% of State fee". The fees sit within the caps of Idaho Code 23-1015 (beer), 23-1315 (wine) and 23-916 (liquor, county share not exceeding 25%). The county page states: "Before applying for your Kootenai County beverage license, you must be in possession of a current state license", and section 3-1-3 C allows issuance only on proof of the state ABC license. Under section 3-1-3 D, a new business in a new or existing building, or an existing business moving to a new location, in the unincorporated county presents the application to Community Development for a compliance review that includes inspection by the fire protection district; the section adds: "No compliance review shall be required for renewals of existing businesses remaining in the same location", and fees for that review "may be set by resolution of the board" (Resolution 2026-62 lists no line for it). Section 3-1-7 sets which wine sales each license allows; under 3-1-7 D a liquor-by-the-drink holder without a retail wine or wine-by-the-drink license "shall not sell wine for consumption on or off the premises". Under section 3-1-5 B the transfer fee is $5.00 for beer and "None" for liquor, retail wine and wine by the drink; the county page adds that other fees may apply for changes in services, such as adding liquor. A temporary state license is presented to the Recorder's Office for approval by the elected Clerk. Contact the Kootenai County Clerk - Recorder's Office, 451 Government Way, P.O. Box 9000, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83816-9000, (208) 446-1480, kcro@kcgov.us; annual licenses can also be applied for online at recorderBL.kcgov.us.

Shared with other businesses in Kootenai County

• 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; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops 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; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.