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

Temporary Food Service Establishment Permit

The Health Department's Temporary Food Service page states that every food stand operating at a publicly advertised single event or celebration in Madison County needs a Temporary Food Service Sanitation Permit, and that "This permit does not cover birthdays, weddings and other private events. A year long permit is needed to sell food or beverages at private events." The fee is $75.00 per event, as listed in Chapter 55 Schedule "A" (effective December 1, 2018) and on the Health Department's current Temporary Event Food Service Application. The application is due at least 14 days before the event; one received less than 48 hours before the event costs $150.00, including a $75.00 late fee. The form states: "A Temporary Permit IS required for Annual permit holders (no fee)." A temporary permit lasts no longer than 14 days for a single event (§55.17).

County Retail Liquor License (Unincorporated Madison County)

Under the Chapter 70 definitions (1993 Code §70.01), "The Chairperson of the County Board shall be the Local Liquor Control Commissioner in the territory of the county outside the corporate limits of any city, village or incorporated town." Code §70.015 requires a county license for retail sale within the unincorporated territory of the county. Per §70.017(C), as set by Ord. 96-10 (passed September 18, 1996) in a code current through Ord. 2025-12 (passed December 17, 2025), a Class A tavern and restaurant or Class B package license is $600, or $300 for an initial applicant purchasing on or after July 1; a Class C caterer's license is $200, or $100 on or after July 1; and Class D special use and Class E special event licenses are $25 per day, up to 10 days in a calendar year. A Class E license covers beer and wine only, for no more than three days per event. The county's posted Liquor Commission Ordinance and Amendments prints the same fees. Under §70.018 the Auditor's office forwards applications, a 30-day waiting period applies and dram shop insurance is required. A business inside a city or village gets its local liquor license from that municipality, and the State license is required as well.

Retail Food Establishment Permit

The Department of Public Health's Retail Food page states that retail food establishments in Illinois, 'including restaurants, bakeries, grocery stores, and food trucks, are regulated by local health departments serving the jurisdiction where the establishment is located', and directs anyone starting a retail food business to the local health department, so the permit and its fee are set locally and depend on the county or city. The state reserves permitting to itself only for food processing plants, which it splits with the Department of Agriculture. The code itself is the 2022 FDA Food Code as adopted by Illinois, and inspection findings are graded as priority, priority foundation or core rather than by a numeric score.

Shared with other businesses in Madison County Il

• Food Establishment Permit (Annual) — Madison County Health Department, Environmental Health, The annual food establishment permit fee is set by category in Chapter 55 Schedule "A" of the Madison County Code; the county's posted Food Sanitation Ordinance states that fees increase on odd-numbered years. Contact the Madison County Health Department (618-692-8954) for the current amount for your category., 12 months from the date of issuance (Code §55.17). Also required for coffee shops, retail stores and childcare centres; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
• Food Business Plan Review — Madison County Health Department, Environmental Health, $200 per plan review application, per project; the application is void if construction has not commenced within one year after the date of issuance. Also required for coffee shops, food trucks, retail stores and childcare centres; what it involves is set out on the childcare centres page.
• Food Handler Training — Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Food, Drugs and Dairies, No fee, 3 years. Also required for coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
• Certified Food Protection Manager — Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Food, Drugs and Dairies, No fee, 5 years. Also required for coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the food trucks page.