11 permits · verified 2026-10-10
What permits do you need to open a restaurant in Ingham County?
In short
A restaurant in Ingham County, MI has 4 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 7 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. Ingham County Health Department, Environmental Health charges $100 per event, single location, up to 14 consecutive days (includes the $9 State of Michigan fee) for the temporary food license. 5 of the 11 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-10-10 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.
Permits particular to a restaurant in Ingham County
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Food Service Establishment License (Category 1, 2 or 3) | Ingham County Health Department, Environmental Health | License/renewal: Category 1 $500; Category 2 $835; Category 3 $1,180; seasonal license $355. Full plan review $1,255 / $1,745 / $2,500; minimal plan review $800 / $980 / $1,500; new owner/evaluation $665 / $935 / $1,365. Late fee $170 after April 30. License figures include the $30 State of Michigan fee (Resolution #25-334, Health Department rates effective October 1, 2025). | annual; the county fee schedule charges a $170 late fee on a Food Service License from the first business day following April 30 | 2026-10-10 |
| Temporary Food License | Ingham County Health Department, Environmental Health | $100 per event, single location, up to 14 consecutive days (includes the $9 State of Michigan fee) | per event; issued for a single location for a maximum of 14 consecutive days | 2026-10-10 |
| Food Service Establishment License | Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development | $338–$1,333 a year, set by the local health department; the state's embedded share is $30 | annual — expires 30 April | 2026-09-03 |
| Certified Food Safety Manageronly if it applies to you | Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development | No fee | certificates are typically valid five years, set by the certifying provider | 2026-09-03 |
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 Ingham County
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water Well and On-Site Septic Permits (conditional — premises on a private well or septic system)only if it applies to you | Ingham County Health Department, Environmental Health | Varies — formula on the Ingham County page | per permit | 2026-10-10 |
| County Road Right-of-Way and Commercial Driveway Permitonly if it applies to you | Ingham County Road Department | Varies — formula on the Ingham County page | per permit | 2026-10-10 |
Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.
MI registrations that apply to every type of business
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization (LLC)only if it applies to you | Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Corporations, Securities and Commercial Licensing Bureau | $50 one-time filing, non-refundable | no expiry, but an annual statement is due every 15 February | 2026-09-03 |
| Articles of Incorporationonly if it applies to you | Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Corporations, Securities and Commercial Licensing Bureau | $60 one-time minimum — a $10 fee plus an organization fee from $50, banded by authorised shares | no expiry, but an annual report is due every 15 May | 2026-09-03 |
| General Business License — Michigan state positiononly if it applies to you | Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development | No fee | not applicable at state level | 2026-09-03 |
| Sales Tax License | Michigan Department of Treasury | No fee | issued yearly, valid January to December | 2026-09-03 |
| Annual Report or Annual Statementonly if it applies to you | Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Corporations, Securities and Commercial Licensing Bureau | Varies — formula on the MI page | annual — 15 February for an LLC, 15 May for a corporation | 2026-09-03 |
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 Ingham County?
There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 11 records listed for a restaurant in Ingham County, MI, 4 apply to every business of this type and 7 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 4 that always apply, 1 carry a flat fee, coming to $100.00. That is a floor, not a total. 5 of the 11 are charged as a range or a formula set by the issuing agency, and 3 have no fee published at all. The ones particular to this business that vary:
Fixed Food Service Establishment License (Category 1, 2 or 3): License/renewal: Category 1 $500; Category 2 $835; Category 3 $1,180; seasonal license $355. Full plan review $1,255 / $1,745 / $2,500; minimal plan review $800 / $980 / $1,500; new owner/evaluation $665 / $935 / $1,365. Late fee $170 after April 30. License figures include the $30 State of Michigan fee (Resolution #25-334, Health Department rates effective October 1, 2025).
Food Service Establishment License: $338–$1,333 a year, set by the local health department; the state's embedded share is $30
The other 3 variable fees belong to permits that apply to every type of business here; their formulas are set out on the Ingham County permits page and the MI state page.
Which offices issue these permits in Ingham County?
Permits for a restaurant in Ingham County, MI come from 5 separate offices: Ingham County Health Department, Environmental Health, Ingham County Road Department, Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Corporations, Securities and Commercial Licensing Bureau, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Michigan Department of Treasury. No single office issues them all, which is why an opening means filing in several places rather than one.
- Ingham County Health Department, Environmental HealthIssues 3 permits on this page: Fixed Food Service Establishment License (Category 1, 2 or 3), Temporary Food License, Water Well and On-Site Septic Permits (conditional — premises on a private well or septic system)5303 S. Cedar St., Lansing, MI 48911 · 517-887-4312health.ingham.org/health/environmental_health/permits_licensing.php
- Ingham County Road DepartmentIssues 1 permit on this page: County Road Right-of-Way and Commercial Driveway Permit517-676-9722roads.ingham.org/departments_and_officials/roads/permits.php
- Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Corporations, Securities and Commercial Licensing BureauIssues 3 permits on this page: Articles of Organization (LLC), Articles of Incorporation, Annual Report or Annual Statement2407 North Grand River Avenue, Lansing, MI 48906 · (517) 241-6470www.michigan.gov/lara/bureau-list/cscl/corps
- Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentIssues 3 permits on this page: General Business License — Michigan state position, Food Service Establishment License, Certified Food Safety ManagerDeborah A. Stabenow Building, 6th Floor, 525 West Allegan Street, PO Box 30017, Lansing, MI 48909 · (800) 292-3939www.michigan.gov/mdard/licensing/food/food-establishment-license
- Michigan Department of TreasuryIssues 1 permit on this page: Sales Tax LicensePO Box 30778, Lansing, MI 48909 · (517) 636-6925mto.treasury.michigan.gov
What does a restaurant need in Ingham County that other businesses do not?
Certified Food Safety Manager
No state fee — Michigan neither teaches the course nor issues the certificate, and the cost and length vary by provider. What the law does require is that a food service establishment, an extended retail food establishment or a food service operation inside a grocery employs at least one managerial food safety manager certified under an accredited programme. The rule adds that the certified manager must be a full-time employee but need not be present during all opening hours. Temporary establishments, vending locations and low-risk establishments are exempt. Ninety days are allowed to replace a departed manager or after a change of ownership, but a newly licensed establishment needs one from its first day. There is no statewide food handler card; local health departments may register individuals, and none of the six largest jurisdictions checked does.
Shared with other businesses in Ingham County
- Fixed Food Service Establishment License (Category 1, 2 or 3) — Ingham County Health Department, Environmental Health, License/renewal: Category 1 $500; Category 2 $835; Category 3 $1,180; seasonal license $355. Full plan review $1,255 / $1,745 / $2,500; minimal plan review $800 / $980 / $1,500; new owner/evaluation $665 / $935 / $1,365. Late fee $170 after April 30. License figures include the $30 State of Michigan fee (Resolution #25-334, Health Department rates effective October 1, 2025)., annual; the county fee schedule charges a $170 late fee on a Food Service License from the first business day following April 30. Also required for coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
- Temporary Food License — Ingham County Health Department, Environmental Health, $100 per event, single location, up to 14 consecutive days (includes the $9 State of Michigan fee), per event; issued for a single location for a maximum of 14 consecutive days. Also required for coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the food trucks page.
- Food Service Establishment License — Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, $338–$1,333 a year, set by the local health department; the state's embedded share is $30, annual — expires 30 April. Also required for coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
The other 2 local permits in the tables apply to every type of business in Ingham County, MI; what each one involves is set out on the Ingham County permits page. The 5 state-level registrations apply to every type of business across MI and are covered on the MI state page.
How does a restaurant compare with other businesses in Ingham County?
The closest match is a coffee shop, which shares 4 of these permits. A coffee shop needs Retail Food Establishment License, which a restaurant does not.
| Business | Its own permits | Shared with a restaurant | Only a restaurant needs | Only it needs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee shops | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Food trucks | 6 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| Auto repair shops | 3 | 0 | 4 | 3 |
| Childcare centres | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| Contractors and trades | 3 | 0 | 4 | 3 |
| Fitness studios | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| Retail stores | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| Salons and barbers | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| Veterinary clinics | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
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 coffee shops page and food trucks page. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the Ingham County permits page and the MI state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.
- Michigan Administrative Code regulation 570 — food establishment manager certificationMichigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
- Michigan MDARD — new business information packet, covering food safety manager certification cost and termMichigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development · 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.