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11 permits · verified 2026-10-10

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

In short

A restaurant in Kent County Mi, MI has 3 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 8 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). 6 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 Kent County Mi

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Food Service License (Kent County Health Department)Kent County Health Department, Environmental HealthThe food license fee is not published on the Health Department's Food Safety Services page; the page states that a change-of-ownership application is brought to the Health Department with the change-of-ownership fee and the food license fee. Contact Kent County Health Department Environmental Health at 616-632-6900 or KCEHmail@kentcountymi.gov for the current amounts.license held by the operator before and during operation; a new owner needs a new license (licenses are non-transferable)2026-10-10
On-Premises Liquor License — Michigan Liquor Control Commission with Local Legislative Body Approvalonly if it applies to youMichigan Liquor Control CommissionLicense fees are paid to the Michigan Liquor Control Commission at the amounts provided in section 525 of the Michigan Liquor Control Code, as MCL 436.1501(1) states.a full-year license expires April 30 following the date of issuance or the date fixed by the commission2026-10-10
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 Kent County Mi

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Septic (On-Site Sewage Disposal) and Well (Water Supply) Permits (conditional — premises off public sewer or water)only if it applies to youKent County Health Department, Environmental HealthVaries — formula on the Kent County Mi pagepermits and site evaluations are valid for 2 years and are non-transferable2026-10-10
County Road Right-of-Way Permit (Kent County Road Commission)only if it applies to youKent County Road CommissionVaries — formula on the Kent County Mi pageper permit, obtained before the work begins2026-10-10

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

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 Kent County Mi?

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 Kent County Mi, MI, 3 apply to every business of this type and 8 are conditional. Adding every fee on the page together would overstate what most operators pay, because it would include permits they never need.

6 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:

Food Service License (Kent County Health Department): The food license fee is not published on the Health Department's Food Safety Services page; the page states that a change-of-ownership application is brought to the Health Department with the change-of-ownership fee and the food license fee. Contact Kent County Health Department Environmental Health at 616-632-6900 or KCEHmail@kentcountymi.gov for the current amounts.

On-Premises Liquor License — Michigan Liquor Control Commission with Local Legislative Body Approval: License fees are paid to the Michigan Liquor Control Commission at the amounts provided in section 525 of the Michigan Liquor Control Code, as MCL 436.1501(1) states.

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 Kent County Mi permits page and the MI state page.

Which offices issue these permits in Kent County Mi?

Permits for a restaurant in Kent County Mi, MI come from 6 separate offices: Kent County Health Department, Environmental Health, Kent County Road Commission, Michigan Liquor Control Commission, 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 Kent County Mi that other businesses do not?

On-Premises Liquor License — Michigan Liquor Control Commission with Local Legislative Body Approval

A restaurant or coffee shop in Kent County that wants to serve alcohol for consumption on the premises needs a license from the Michigan Liquor Control Commission. MCL 436.1501(2) states that such an application, 'except in a city having a population of 600,000 or more, must be approved by the local legislative body in which the applicant's place of business is located before the license is granted by the commission.' In Kent County that body is the council or board of the city, village or township where the business is located. Under the same subsection, a renewal needs local approval only if the local legislative body files an objection not less than 30 days before the license expires, and a full-year license expires on April 30.

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 Kent County Mi

  • Food Service License (Kent County Health Department) — Kent County Health Department, Environmental Health, The food license fee is not published on the Health Department's Food Safety Services page; the page states that a change-of-ownership application is brought to the Health Department with the change-of-ownership fee and the food license fee. Contact Kent County Health Department Environmental Health at 616-632-6900 or KCEHmail@kentcountymi.gov for the current amounts., license held by the operator before and during operation; a new owner needs a new license (licenses are non-transferable). 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 2 local permits in the tables apply to every type of business in Kent County Mi, MI; what each one involves is set out on the Kent 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 Kent County Mi?

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.

Permits particular to each business type in Kent County Mi, MI, compared with a restaurant
BusinessIts own permitsShared with a restaurantOnly a restaurant needsOnly it needs
Coffee shops5401
Food trucks5312
Auto repair shops2042
Childcare centres2042
Contractors and trades1041
Fitness studios1041
Retail stores1041
Salons and barbers3043
Veterinary clinics1041

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 Kent County Mi permits page and the MI state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.

  1. MCL 436.1501, Michigan Liquor Control Code — local legislative body approval of on-premises licensesMichigan Legislature · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  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.