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13 permits · verified 2026-10-10

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

In short

A coffee shop in Washtenaw County, MI has 4 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 9 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 2026-10-10 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.

Permits particular to a coffee shop in Washtenaw County

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Food Service Establishment License (fixed, seasonal or non-profit)Washtenaw County Health Department, Environmental Health DivisionAnnual license by total building square footage, local + state = total: 0-1,000 sq ft $474 + $30 = $504; 1,001-3,000 sq ft $868 + $30 = $898; 3,001+ sq ft $1,303 + $30 = $1,333. Non-profit: $274 / $387 / $611 (local + $5 state). Seasonal (<9 months/year, 60% of the regular local fee): $314 / $551 / $812. Late renewal: $100 a week, cumulative, from Monday, May 4, 2026. New owner operating before applying: $436 in addition to the license fee; change of use/owner/catering application $343 (2026 Environmental Health Fee Schedule, effective January 1, 2026).annual; the county fee schedule charges late fees on renewals not received by the first Monday in May2026-10-10
Food Service Plan Review (new or remodeled establishments, mobiles and STFUs)only if it applies to youWashtenaw County Health Department, Environmental Health DivisionBy total building square footage: 0-1,000 sq ft $554; 1,001-3,000 sq ft $988; 3,001+ sq ft $1,467; mobiles and STFUs $554. Minor alteration of a currently licensed establishment by the current owner: 50% ($277 / $494 / $734; mobiles and STFUs $277). Work begun before plan approval: 2x the plan review fee; resubmitted or modified plans after approval: 50%; each site inspection beyond two: $170 (2026 Environmental Health Fee Schedule, effective January 1, 2026).one-time, per new or remodeled establishment; two pre-opening inspections are included2026-10-10
Temporary Food Service Establishment LicenseWashtenaw County Health Department, Environmental Health DivisionPer booth/location: $167 for-profit ($158 local + $9 state), $163 non-profit; $207 / $203 if the application is received 3 or fewer business days before the event (includes a $40 late fee); $325 / $321 if received the day of the event (double local fee) (2026 Temporary Food Service Establishment Licensing Fee Schedule, effective January 1, 2026).per event2026-10-10
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
Retail Food Establishment Licenseonly if it applies to youMichigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development$73–$471 a year, by establishment typeannual — the license year runs 1 May to 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 Washtenaw County

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Commercial Onsite Sewage and Type II Well Permits (conditional — premises on a private well or septic system)only if it applies to youWashtenaw County Health Department, Environmental Health DivisionVaries — formula on the Washtenaw County pageper permit2026-10-10
Commercial Driveway Approach Permit (county road right-of-way)only if it applies to youWashtenaw County Road CommissionVaries — formula on the Washtenaw County pageper permit2026-10-10

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 coffee shop in Washtenaw County?

There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 13 records listed for a coffee shop in Washtenaw County, MI, 4 apply to every business of this type and 9 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 (fixed, seasonal or non-profit): Annual license by total building square footage, local + state = total: 0-1,000 sq ft $474 + $30 = $504; 1,001-3,000 sq ft $868 + $30 = $898; 3,001+ sq ft $1,303 + $30 = $1,333. Non-profit: $274 / $387 / $611 (local + $5 state). Seasonal (<9 months/year, 60% of the regular local fee): $314 / $551 / $812. Late renewal: $100 a week, cumulative, from Monday, May 4, 2026. New owner operating before applying: $436 in addition to the license fee; change of use/owner/catering application $343 (2026 Environmental Health Fee Schedule, effective January 1, 2026).

Food Service Plan Review (new or remodeled establishments, mobiles and STFUs): By total building square footage: 0-1,000 sq ft $554; 1,001-3,000 sq ft $988; 3,001+ sq ft $1,467; mobiles and STFUs $554. Minor alteration of a currently licensed establishment by the current owner: 50% ($277 / $494 / $734; mobiles and STFUs $277). Work begun before plan approval: 2x the plan review fee; resubmitted or modified plans after approval: 50%; each site inspection beyond two: $170 (2026 Environmental Health Fee Schedule, effective January 1, 2026).

Temporary Food Service Establishment License: Per booth/location: $167 for-profit ($158 local + $9 state), $163 non-profit; $207 / $203 if the application is received 3 or fewer business days before the event (includes a $40 late fee); $325 / $321 if received the day of the event (double local fee) (2026 Temporary Food Service Establishment Licensing Fee Schedule, effective January 1, 2026).

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

Retail Food Establishment License: $73–$471 a year, by establishment type

The other 3 variable fees belong to permits that apply to every type of business here; their formulas are set out on the Washtenaw County permits page and the MI state page.

Which offices issue these permits in Washtenaw County?

Permits for a coffee shop in Washtenaw County, MI come from 5 separate offices: Washtenaw County Health Department, Environmental Health Division, Washtenaw County Road 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 coffee shop need in Washtenaw County that other businesses do not?

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 Washtenaw County

  • Food Service Establishment License (fixed, seasonal or non-profit) — Washtenaw County Health Department, Environmental Health Division, Annual license by total building square footage, local + state = total: 0-1,000 sq ft $474 + $30 = $504; 1,001-3,000 sq ft $868 + $30 = $898; 3,001+ sq ft $1,303 + $30 = $1,333. Non-profit: $274 / $387 / $611 (local + $5 state). Seasonal (<9 months/year, 60% of the regular local fee): $314 / $551 / $812. Late renewal: $100 a week, cumulative, from Monday, May 4, 2026. New owner operating before applying: $436 in addition to the license fee; change of use/owner/catering application $343 (2026 Environmental Health Fee Schedule, effective January 1, 2026)., annual; the county fee schedule charges late fees on renewals not received by the first Monday in May. Also required for restaurants and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.
  • Food Service Plan Review (new or remodeled establishments, mobiles and STFUs) — Washtenaw County Health Department, Environmental Health Division, By total building square footage: 0-1,000 sq ft $554; 1,001-3,000 sq ft $988; 3,001+ sq ft $1,467; mobiles and STFUs $554. Minor alteration of a currently licensed establishment by the current owner: 50% ($277 / $494 / $734; mobiles and STFUs $277). Work begun before plan approval: 2x the plan review fee; resubmitted or modified plans after approval: 50%; each site inspection beyond two: $170 (2026 Environmental Health Fee Schedule, effective January 1, 2026)., one-time, per new or remodeled establishment; two pre-opening inspections are included. Also required for restaurants, food trucks and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the food trucks page.
  • Temporary Food Service Establishment License — Washtenaw County Health Department, Environmental Health Division, Per booth/location: $167 for-profit ($158 local + $9 state), $163 non-profit; $207 / $203 if the application is received 3 or fewer business days before the event (includes a $40 late fee); $325 / $321 if received the day of the event (double local fee) (2026 Temporary Food Service Establishment Licensing Fee Schedule, effective January 1, 2026)., per event. Also required for restaurants and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the restaurants 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.

The other 2 local permits in the tables apply to every type of business in Washtenaw County, MI; what each one involves is set out on the Washtenaw 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 coffee shop compare with other businesses in Washtenaw County?

The closest match is a restaurant, which shares 5 of these permits. A coffee shop also needs Retail Food Establishment License. A restaurant needs On-Premises Liquor License — Michigan Liquor Control Commission with Local Legislative Body Approval, which a coffee shop does not.

Permits particular to each business type in Washtenaw County, MI, compared with a coffee shop
BusinessIts own permitsShared with a coffee shopOnly a coffee shop needsOnly it needs
Restaurants6511
Food trucks7512
Retail stores3330
Auto repair shops3063
Childcare centres2062
Contractors and trades2062
Fitness studios1061
Salons and barbers3063
Veterinary clinics1061

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

  1. Michigan MDARD — food service establishments, confirming they are licensed by local health departments and not by MDARDMichigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
  2. City of Detroit Health Department — food service license fee schedule, effective 1 January 2026City of Detroit · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
  3. Washtenaw County Health Department — environmental health applications, forms and fees, effective 1 January 2026Washtenaw County Health Department · 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.