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13 permits · verified 2026-10-27

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

In short

A restaurant in Jackson County Mi, MI has 3 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 10 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Corporations, Securities and Commercial Licensing Bureau charges $50 one-time filing, non-refundable for the articles of organization (llc). 8 of the 13 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-10-27 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.

Permits particular to a restaurant in Jackson County Mi

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Food Service Establishment License (Risk Category Type X, Y or Z)Jackson County Health Department, Environmental Health DivisionType X $638; Type Y $838; Type Z $988 for the license year beginning May 1, 2026. Each is a combined total of the $8 technology fee, the county local fee ($600 / $800 / $950) and the $30 State of Michigan fee, as printed in the county's FY2026 Fee Schedule. Late fee: "Add 25% to total outstanding due each month" for applications received after April 30.license year May 1 through April 30; renewals must be paid by April 302026-10-27
Temporary Food Establishment Licenseonly if it applies to youJackson County Health Department, Environmental Health DivisionThe Temporary Food Establishments page states "(Fees vary)". The county's published Environmental Health fee schedule is the FY2026 schedule, in effect October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026; no FY2027 schedule is published on the county website. Contact Jackson County Environmental Health at (517) 788-4433 or ehealth@mijackson.org for the current amount.up to two weeks at a fixed location2026-10-27
Food Service Plan Reviewonly if it applies to youJackson County Health Department, Environmental Health DivisionThe county's published Environmental Health fee schedule is the FY2026 schedule, in effect October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026; no FY2027 schedule is published on the county website. Contact Jackson County Environmental Health at (517) 788-4433 or ehealth@mijackson.org for the current plan review amount.one-time, before licensing and the pre-opening inspection2026-10-27
Food Service Establishment LicenseMichigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development$338–$1,333 a year, set by the local health department; the state's embedded share is $30annual — expires 30 April2026-09-03
Certified Food Safety Manageronly if it applies to youMichigan Department of Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentNo feecertificates are typically valid five years, set by the certifying provider2026-09-03

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 Jackson County Mi

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Onsite Well and Sewage System Permits and Change-of-Use Review (conditional — premises off municipal water or sewer)only if it applies to youJackson County Health Department, Environmental Health DivisionVaries — formula on the Jackson County Mi pageper permit, obtained before construction, repair or replacement2026-10-27
County Road Driveway Permit, Including Commercial Driveways (JCDOT)only if it applies to youJackson County Department of TransportationVaries — formula on the Jackson County Mi pageper permit, obtained before the driveway work begins2026-10-27
Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Permit (JCDOT, County Enforcing Agency)only if it applies to youJackson County Department of TransportationVaries — formula on the Jackson County Mi pageper permit, obtained before the earth change begins2026-10-27

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

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Articles of Organization (LLC)only if it applies to youMichigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Corporations, Securities and Commercial Licensing Bureau$50 one-time filing, non-refundableno expiry, but an annual statement is due every 15 February2026-09-03
Articles of Incorporationonly if it applies to youMichigan 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 sharesno expiry, but an annual report is due every 15 May2026-09-03
General Business License — Michigan state positiononly if it applies to youMichigan Department of Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentNo feenot applicable at state level2026-09-03
Sales Tax LicenseMichigan Department of TreasuryNo feeissued yearly, valid January to December2026-09-03
Annual Report or Annual Statementonly if it applies to youMichigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Corporations, Securities and Commercial Licensing BureauVaries — formula on the MI pageannual — 15 February for an LLC, 15 May for a corporation2026-09-03

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 Jackson County Mi?

There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 13 records listed for a restaurant in Jackson County Mi, MI, 3 apply to every business of this type and 10 are conditional. Adding every fee on the page together would overstate what most operators pay, because it would include permits they never need.

8 of the 13 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:

Food Service Establishment License (Risk Category Type X, Y or Z): Type X $638; Type Y $838; Type Z $988 for the license year beginning May 1, 2026. Each is a combined total of the $8 technology fee, the county local fee ($600 / $800 / $950) and the $30 State of Michigan fee, as printed in the county's FY2026 Fee Schedule. Late fee: "Add 25% to total outstanding due each month" for applications received after April 30.

Temporary Food Establishment License: The Temporary Food Establishments page states "(Fees vary)". The county's published Environmental Health fee schedule is the FY2026 schedule, in effect October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026; no FY2027 schedule is published on the county website. Contact Jackson County Environmental Health at (517) 788-4433 or ehealth@mijackson.org for the current amount.

Food Service Plan Review: The county's published Environmental Health fee schedule is the FY2026 schedule, in effect October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026; no FY2027 schedule is published on the county website. Contact Jackson County Environmental Health at (517) 788-4433 or ehealth@mijackson.org for the current plan review amount.

Food Service Establishment License: $338–$1,333 a year, set by the local health department; the state's embedded share is $30

The other 4 variable fees belong to permits that apply to every type of business here; their formulas are set out on the Jackson County Mi permits page and the MI state page.

Which offices issue these permits in Jackson County Mi?

Permits for a restaurant in Jackson County Mi, MI come from 5 separate offices: Jackson County Health Department, Environmental Health Division, Jackson County Department of Transportation, 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.

What does a restaurant need in Jackson County Mi that other businesses do not?

Temporary Food Establishment License

The Jackson County Health Department's Temporary Food Establishments page states that "A temporary food establishment is valid for up to two weeks in a fixed location", that an application must be completed and appropriate fees paid "(Fees vary)", and that a sanitarian conducts a pre-opening inspection. The record applies to a restaurant, coffee shop or food truck serving food at a fair, festival or other event in Jackson County. The county's published Environmental Health fee schedule is the FY2026 schedule, in effect October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026; no FY2027 schedule is published on the county website. The Environmental Health page states: "Before making an online payment, please call Environmental Health at (517) 788-4433 to confirm the correct payment amount."

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 Jackson County Mi

  • Food Service Establishment License (Risk Category Type X, Y or Z) — Jackson County Health Department, Environmental Health Division, Type X $638; Type Y $838; Type Z $988 for the license year beginning May 1, 2026. Each is a combined total of the $8 technology fee, the county local fee ($600 / $800 / $950) and the $30 State of Michigan fee, as printed in the county's FY2026 Fee Schedule. Late fee: "Add 25% to total outstanding due each month" for applications received after April 30., license year May 1 through April 30; renewals must be paid by April 30. Also required for coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
  • Food Service Plan Review — Jackson County Health Department, Environmental Health Division, The county's published Environmental Health fee schedule is the FY2026 schedule, in effect October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026; no FY2027 schedule is published on the county website. Contact Jackson County Environmental Health at (517) 788-4433 or ehealth@mijackson.org for the current plan review amount., one-time, before licensing and the pre-opening inspection. Also required for coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops 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 3 local permits in the tables apply to every type of business in Jackson County Mi, MI; what each one involves is set out on the Jackson County Mi 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 Jackson County Mi?

The closest match is a coffee shop, which shares 5 of these permits. A coffee shop needs Retail Food Establishment License, which a restaurant does not.

Permits particular to each business type in Jackson County Mi, MI, compared with a restaurant
BusinessIts own permitsShared with a restaurantOnly a restaurant needsOnly it needs
Coffee shops6501
Food trucks6412
Auto repair shops2052
Childcare centres2052
Contractors and trades1051
Fitness studios1051
Retail stores1051
Salons and barbers3053
Veterinary clinics1051

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. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the Jackson County Mi permits page and the MI state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.

  1. Temporary Food EstablishmentsJackson County Health Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-27
  2. Michigan Administrative Code regulation 570 — food establishment manager certificationMichigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
  3. 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.