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

Fixed Food Service License (Public Health - Muskegon County)

A restaurant, coffee shop, bar or other fixed food service establishment in Muskegon County is licensed by Public Health - Muskegon County; its licensing page states that "State law requires the licensure of food service establishments (temporary and permanent)." For 2026 the for-profit Fixed Food Service License is $605.00 combined, made up of a $575.00 county (PHMC) portion and a $30.00 State portion, and the non-profit license is $148.75 combined ($143.75 county plus $5.00 State). The schedule states that the fee "includes two routine evaluations and one associated follow-up evaluation." The figures are from the county's official "Food Service Fee Schedule as of January 1, 2026" (revised 12/16/25), a calendar-year 2026 schedule in effect through December 31, 2026. The schedule's footnote states: "State fees are charged in addition to Public Health - Muskegon County fees. State and TFU fees are subject to change and are not established at the discretion of the County of Muskegon." The same schedule states that holders of a veteran's license issued by the County Clerk under Act 359, PA 1921 are exempt from the state fees under MCL 289.3119 but still pay local license fees and other local fees. The county's licensing page also states that the Michigan Department of Agriculture licenses establishments such as retail stores, bakeries and butcher shops, so a retail store selling food is licensed by the state department rather than under this record. Contact Public Health - Muskegon County Food Service Sanitation at 231-724-4406 or publichealth.foodservice@co.muskegon.mi.us.

Limited Food Service License (non-potentially hazardous food only)

Public Health - Muskegon County's 2026 fee schedule defines the Limited Food Service License as one for "Fixed food establishments that serve only non-potentially hazardous food", which suits a coffee shop or similar counter that serves no potentially hazardous food. For 2026 the for-profit license is $230.00 combined ($200.00 county portion plus $30.00 State portion) and the non-profit license is $55.00 combined ($50.00 county plus $5.00 State). The figures are from the county's official "Food Service Fee Schedule as of January 1, 2026" (revised 12/16/25), a calendar-year 2026 schedule in effect through December 31, 2026. The schedule's footnote states: "State fees are charged in addition to Public Health - Muskegon County fees. State and TFU fees are subject to change and are not established at the discretion of the County of Muskegon." An establishment serving potentially hazardous food holds the Fixed Food Service License instead. Contact Public Health - Muskegon County Food Service Sanitation at 231-724-4406 or publichealth.foodservice@co.muskegon.mi.us.

Temporary Food Service License (events up to 14 consecutive days)

The county's temporary licensing page describes a temporary food service establishment as "a food service establishment which operates at a fixed location for a temporary period of time not to exceed two weeks (14 consecutive days)." The application is returned with the fee, payable to Public Health Muskegon County, "preferably 30 days prior to the event", and the page states: "We will conduct an on-site inspection when your establishment is ready to operate and issue the actual operating license at that time." For 2026 the for-profit Temporary Food Service License is $159.00 combined ($150.00 county portion plus $9.00 State portion) and the non-profit license is $42.50 combined ($37.50 county plus $5.00 State). The figures are from the county's official "Food Service Fee Schedule as of January 1, 2026" (revised 12/16/25), a calendar-year 2026 schedule in effect through December 31, 2026. Contact Public Health - Muskegon County Food Service Sanitation at 231-724-4406 or publichealth.foodservice@co.muskegon.mi.us.

Food Service Establishment License

The agriculture department does not license restaurants and says so: food service establishments, including restaurants, cafes, bars, catering kitchens, food trucks and temporary units, are licensed by local health departments. Its own application form tells you to contact the local health department for the fee. The state's part is a small embedded component the local schedule collects — $30 on a fixed or mobile license, $44 on a temporary one — and the rest is the county's. The counties do not even measure the same thing: Detroit, Oakland and Macomb band by seats while Washtenaw bands by floor area, so a sixty-seat restaurant pays $398 in Oakland and $898 in Washtenaw. Every license expires on 30 April. The state steps back in only where a business also serves unpackaged food with customer seating inside a retail store, which becomes an extended retail food establishment licensed by the state at $471.

Shared with other businesses in Muskegon County

• Seasonal Food Service License (9 continuous months or less) — Public Health - Muskegon County, 2026: for-profit Seasonal Food Service License $287.50 county (PHMC) portion + $30.00 State portion = $317.50 combined; non-profit $71.88 county + $5.00 State = $76.88 combined (Food Service Fee Schedule as of January 1, 2026, revised 12/16/25)., for an establishment operating 9 continuous months or less in a calendar year; license period not stated in the county's 2026 Food Service Fee Schedule. Also required for restaurants; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.
• Food Service Plan Review, Partial Plan Review and Change of Ownership Evaluation — Public Health - Muskegon County, 2026: Food Service Plan Review $500.00; Partial Plan Review $300.00 (includes a special transitory food unit plan review); Change of Ownership or Relicensing Evaluation $250.00; Re-Evaluation Fee $170.00 if the establishment is not ready at the pre-opening evaluation (Food Service Fee Schedule as of January 1, 2026, revised 12/16/25)., one-time, before opening, conversion, remodeling or a change of ownership. Also required for restaurants and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the food trucks page.
• Retail Food Establishment License — Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, $73–$471 a year, by establishment type, annual — the license year runs 1 May to 30 April. Also required for retail stores and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the food trucks page.
• Certified Food Safety Manager — Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, No fee, certificates are typically valid five years, set by the certifying provider. Also required for restaurants and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.