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11 permits · verified 2026-10-02

What permits do you need to open a coffee shop in Montgomery County Md?

In short

A coffee shop in Montgomery County Md, MD has 6 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 5 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, Licensure & Regulatory Services charges $375 a year for the food service facility license — moderate priority. 2 of the 11 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 coffee shop in Montgomery County Md

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Food Service Facility License — Moderate PriorityMontgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, Licensure & Regulatory Services$375 a yearannual, expires every January 312026-10-02
Food Service Facility License — Low PriorityMontgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, Licensure & Regulatory Services$200 a yearannual, expires every January 312026-10-02
Class B Beer, Wine, and Liquor Licenseonly if it applies to youMontgomery County Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) and the Board of License Commissioners for Montgomery County$2,500 a yearannual2026-10-02
Certified Food Service Manager (CFSM) LicenseMontgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, Licensure & Regulatory Services$50 one-time, per manager5 years2026-10-02
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.

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 coffee shop in Montgomery County Md?

There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 11 records listed for a coffee shop in Montgomery County Md, MD, 6 apply to every business of this type and 5 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 6 that always apply, 3 carry a flat fee, coming to $625.00. That is a floor, not a total. 2 of the 11 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 License: $100–$525 a year, set by the county health department — there is no state fee

The other 1 variable fee belongs to permits that apply to every type of business here; its formula is set out on the Montgomery County Md permits page and the MD state page.

Which offices issue these permits in Montgomery County Md?

Permits for a coffee shop in Montgomery County Md, MD come from 6 separate offices: Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, Licensure & Regulatory Services, Montgomery County Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) and the Board of License Commissioners for Montgomery County, 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 coffee shop need in Montgomery County Md that other businesses do not?

Certified Food Service Manager

No state fee and, unusually, no statewide requirement either — the retail food regulations contain no manager certification provision at all, only a duty that employees be trained for their assigned work. Certification is a county matter where it exists: Montgomery charges $50 for a card valid five years, Howard $37 for one it accepts for three, and the exam itself comes from an accredited provider at that provider's price. This is a watch item rather than a settled position. The health department's own October 2025 fact sheet lists a certified food protection manager on site during all hours of operation among the new requirements it proposes to adopt with the federal food code, which would replace the county patchwork with a statewide mandate. No adoption date has been set.

Shared with other businesses in Montgomery County Md

  • Food Service Facility License — Moderate Priority — Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, Licensure & Regulatory Services, $375 a year, annual, expires every January 31. Also required for restaurants; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.
  • Food Service Facility License — Low Priority — Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, Licensure & Regulatory Services, $200 a year, annual, expires every January 31. Also required for restaurants; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.
  • Class B Beer, Wine, and Liquor License — Montgomery County Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) and the Board of License Commissioners for Montgomery County, $2,500 a year, annual. Also required for restaurants; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.
  • Certified Food Service Manager (CFSM) License — Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, Licensure & Regulatory Services, $50 one-time, per manager, 5 years. Also required for restaurants and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the food trucks page.
  • Food Service Facility License — Maryland Department of Health, Office of Food Protection, $100–$525 a year, set by the county health department — there is no state fee, 1 year from issue unless local law says otherwise. Also required for restaurants and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the restaurants 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 coffee shop compare with other businesses in Montgomery County Md?

The closest match is a restaurant, which shares 6 of these permits. A restaurant needs Food Service Facility License — High Priority, which a coffee shop does not.

Permits particular to each business type in Montgomery County Md, MD, compared with a coffee shop
BusinessIts own permitsShared with a coffee shopOnly a coffee shop needsOnly it needs
Restaurants7601
Food trucks4331
Auto repair shops4064
Retail stores1061
Salons and barbers3063

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 restaurants page and food trucks page. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the Montgomery County Md permits page and the MD state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.

  1. Maryland Department of Health — food code fact sheet listing the certified food protection manager as a proposed new requirementMaryland Department of Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
  2. Montgomery County Licensure and Regulatory Services — fee scheduleMontgomery County, Maryland · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
  3. 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.