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14 permits · verified 2026-10-02

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

In short

A restaurant in Baltimore County, MD has 8 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 6 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation, Corporate Charter Division charges $100 one-time filing for the articles of organization (llc). 9 of the 14 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-10-02 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.

Permits particular to a restaurant in Baltimore County

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Food Service Facility PermitBaltimore County Department of Health, Environmental Health ServicesHigh Priority Facility $540; Medium Priority Facility $340; Low Priority Facility $135; Farmer's Market Food Facility $175; On-Farm Food Service Facility $85; Temporary Permit $35 per business day; Reciprocity Permit $300, prorated $25 per month; Duplicate Permit $25; Plans Review for a new facility: High $350, Medium $245, Low $140; Plans Review for a remodel: High $210, Medium $140, Low $70; Certified Food Manager Level I card $35, Level II card $0, Pool Operator card $35, replacement card $21.annual2026-10-02
Trader's LicenseClerk of the Circuit Court for Baltimore CountyMd. Code Ann., Bus. Reg. §17-1807(c)(4) sets an 11-bracket fee schedule by stock-in-trade value, specific to Baltimore County: $20 (stock-in-trade of $1,000 or less), rising through $40, $80, $160, $450, $500, $775, $1,000, a second $1,000 bracket immediately below the next tier, $1,250, up to $1,600 for a stock-in-trade of more than $750,000.annual; the license year runs from May 1 through the following April 302026-10-02
Alcoholic Beverage License (Board of License Commissioners)only if it applies to youBaltimore County Board of License CommissionersCodified directly in Md. Code Ann., Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article, Title 13: a wine-only Class A license is $100 (§13-701(d)); beer-and-wine licenses are Class A $250, Class B $300, Class C $150 and Class D $250 (§§13-802(c)-13-805(e)); full beer-wine-liquor licenses are Class A $900, Class B $1,500, Class C $1,000 and Class D $1,500 (§§13-901(d)-13-904(d)). A one-time application or transfer fee of $500 applies to every new or transferred license under the Board's own current Rules and Regulations Handbook, Rule 18, and a late renewal may be fined $50 for each day the application is late, up to a maximum of $500.annual; the license year runs from May 1 through the following April 302026-10-02
Food Service Facility LicenseMaryland Department of Health, Office of Food Protection$100–$525 a year, set by the county health department — there is no state fee1 year from issue unless local law says otherwise2026-09-03
Certified Food Service Manageronly if it applies to youMaryland Department of Health, Office of Food ProtectionNo feeno state period; three to five years where a county requires a card2026-09-03

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 Baltimore County

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Building Permit Fee ScheduleBaltimore County Department of Permits, Approvals and InspectionsVaries — formula on the Baltimore County pageper permit (1-2 year validity)2026-10-02
Zoning, Development & Appeals Fee Scheduleonly if it applies to youBaltimore County Department of Permits, Approvals and InspectionsVaries — formula on the Baltimore County pageper filing2026-10-02
Electrical Permit Fee ScheduleBaltimore County Department of Permits, Approvals and InspectionsVaries — formula on the Baltimore County pageper permit2026-10-02
Plumbing Inspection Fee ScheduleBaltimore County Department of Permits, Approvals and InspectionsVaries — formula on the Baltimore County pageper permit2026-10-02

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

MD 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
Trader's LicenseComptroller of Maryland, State License BureauVaries — formula on the MD page1 May to 30 April, whenever it is bought2026-09-03
Sales and Use Tax LicenseComptroller of Maryland, Revenue Administration DivisionNo feeno expiry — effective until surrendered or revoked2026-09-03
Articles of Organization (LLC)only if it applies to youMaryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation, Corporate Charter Division$100 one-time filingperpetual, but a $300 annual report is due every 15 April2026-09-03
Articles of Incorporationonly if it applies to youMaryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation, Corporate Charter Division$120 one-time minimum — $100 filing plus a $20 organization and capitalization feeperpetual, but a $300 annual report is due every 15 April2026-09-03
Annual Reportonly if it applies to youMaryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation, Corporate Charter Division$300 a yearannual — due 15 April, extendable to 15 June2026-09-03

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 Baltimore County?

There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 14 records listed for a restaurant in Baltimore County, MD, 8 apply to every business of this type and 6 are conditional. Adding every fee on the page together would overstate what most operators pay, because it would include permits they never need.

9 of the 14 are charged as a range or a formula set by the issuing agency, and 2 have no fee published at all. The ones particular to this business that vary:

Food Service Facility Permit: High Priority Facility $540; Medium Priority Facility $340; Low Priority Facility $135; Farmer's Market Food Facility $175; On-Farm Food Service Facility $85; Temporary Permit $35 per business day; Reciprocity Permit $300, prorated $25 per month; Duplicate Permit $25; Plans Review for a new facility: High $350, Medium $245, Low $140; Plans Review for a remodel: High $210, Medium $140, Low $70; Certified Food Manager Level I card $35, Level II card $0, Pool Operator card $35, replacement card $21.

Trader's License: Md. Code Ann., Bus. Reg. §17-1807(c)(4) sets an 11-bracket fee schedule by stock-in-trade value, specific to Baltimore County: $20 (stock-in-trade of $1,000 or less), rising through $40, $80, $160, $450, $500, $775, $1,000, a second $1,000 bracket immediately below the next tier, $1,250, up to $1,600 for a stock-in-trade of more than $750,000.

Alcoholic Beverage License (Board of License Commissioners): Codified directly in Md. Code Ann., Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article, Title 13: a wine-only Class A license is $100 (§13-701(d)); beer-and-wine licenses are Class A $250, Class B $300, Class C $150 and Class D $250 (§§13-802(c)-13-805(e)); full beer-wine-liquor licenses are Class A $900, Class B $1,500, Class C $1,000 and Class D $1,500 (§§13-901(d)-13-904(d)). A one-time application or transfer fee of $500 applies to every new or transferred license under the Board's own current Rules and Regulations Handbook, Rule 18, and a late renewal may be fined $50 for each day the application is late, up to a maximum of $500.

Food Service Facility License: $100–$525 a year, set by the county health department — there is no state fee

The other 5 variable fees belong to permits that apply to every type of business here; their formulas are set out on the Baltimore County permits page and the MD state page.

Which offices issue these permits in Baltimore County?

Permits for a restaurant in Baltimore County, MD come from 8 separate offices: Baltimore County Department of Health, Environmental Health Services, Clerk of the Circuit Court for Baltimore County, Baltimore County Department of Permits, Approvals and Inspections, Baltimore County Board of License Commissioners, Comptroller of Maryland, State License Bureau, Comptroller of Maryland, Revenue Administration Division, Maryland Department of Health, Office of Food Protection, Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation, Corporate Charter Division. 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 Baltimore County that other businesses do not?

Food Service Facility License

The state health department writes the regulations and licenses only processing, warehousing and dairy; retail food service belongs to the twenty-four local health departments, and the statute says the county governing body sets the fee schedule and the money is paid to the county. Both examples band by risk rather than size. Montgomery charges $200 for a low-priority facility, $375 for moderate and $525 for high, with a $100 non-profit rate and a $100 late fee, and its licenses expire on 31 January. Howard charges $415, $325 and $100 on the same three tiers, adds a ten per cent technology surcharge to everything, and prices plan review separately at up to $485. Statutory caps exist only in odd corners — a mobile reciprocity license cannot exceed $300, and seasonal on-farm processing $70 outside four jurisdictions.

Shared with other businesses in Baltimore County

  • Food Service Facility Permit — Baltimore County Department of Health, Environmental Health Services, High Priority Facility $540; Medium Priority Facility $340; Low Priority Facility $135; Farmer's Market Food Facility $175; On-Farm Food Service Facility $85; Temporary Permit $35 per business day; Reciprocity Permit $300, prorated $25 per month; Duplicate Permit $25; Plans Review for a new facility: High $350, Medium $245, Low $140; Plans Review for a remodel: High $210, Medium $140, Low $70; Certified Food Manager Level I card $35, Level II card $0, Pool Operator card $35, replacement card $21., annual. Also required for coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the food trucks page.
  • Trader's License — Clerk of the Circuit Court for Baltimore County, Md. Code Ann., Bus. Reg. §17-1807(c)(4) sets an 11-bracket fee schedule by stock-in-trade value, specific to Baltimore County: $20 (stock-in-trade of $1,000 or less), rising through $40, $80, $160, $450, $500, $775, $1,000, a second $1,000 bracket immediately below the next tier, $1,250, up to $1,600 for a stock-in-trade of more than $750,000., annual; the license year runs from May 1 through the following April 30. Also required for retail stores, coffee shops, salons and barbers and veterinary clinics; what it involves is set out on the veterinary clinics page.
  • Alcoholic Beverage License (Board of License Commissioners) — Baltimore County Board of License Commissioners, Codified directly in Md. Code Ann., Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article, Title 13: a wine-only Class A license is $100 (§13-701(d)); beer-and-wine licenses are Class A $250, Class B $300, Class C $150 and Class D $250 (§§13-802(c)-13-805(e)); full beer-wine-liquor licenses are Class A $900, Class B $1,500, Class C $1,000 and Class D $1,500 (§§13-901(d)-13-904(d)). A one-time application or transfer fee of $500 applies to every new or transferred license under the Board's own current Rules and Regulations Handbook, Rule 18, and a late renewal may be fined $50 for each day the application is late, up to a maximum of $500., annual; the license year runs from May 1 through the following April 30. Also required for retail stores and coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
  • Certified Food Service Manager — Maryland Department of Health, Office of Food Protection, No fee, no state period; three to five years where a county requires a card. Also required for coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.

The other 4 local permits in the tables apply to every type of business in Baltimore County, MD; what each one involves is set out on the Baltimore County permits page. The 5 state-level registrations apply to every type of business across MD and are covered on the MD state page.

How does a restaurant compare with other businesses in Baltimore County?

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

Permits particular to each business type in Baltimore County, MD, compared with a restaurant
BusinessIts own permitsShared with a restaurantOnly a restaurant needsOnly it needs
Coffee shops5500
Food trucks4321
Retail stores2230
Veterinary clinics2141
Salons and barbers3142
Auto repair shops1051
Childcare centres1051
Contractors and trades1051
Fitness studios0050

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 food trucks page, veterinary clinics page and coffee shops page. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the Baltimore County permits page and the MD state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.

  1. Maryland Health-General section 21-308 — county governing bodies set the food establishment license fee scheduleMaryland General Assembly · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
  2. COMAR 10.15.03.28 — a food service facility license must be obtained from the approving authorityMaryland Department of Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
  3. Montgomery County Licensure and Regulatory Services — fee scheduleMontgomery County, Maryland · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
  4. Howard County Health Department — environmental health fee scheduleHoward County, Maryland · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03

Related

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