10 permits · verified 2026-10-10
What permits do you need to open a retail store in Washtenaw County?
In short
A retail store in Washtenaw County, MI has 2 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 10 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 retail store in Washtenaw County
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2026-10-10 |
| Food Service Plan Review (new or remodeled establishments, mobiles and STFUs)only if it applies to you | 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 | 2026-10-10 |
| Retail Food Establishment Licenseonly if it applies to you | Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development | $73–$471 a year, by establishment type | annual — the license year runs 1 May to 30 April | 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 Washtenaw County
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Onsite Sewage and Type II Well Permits (conditional — premises on a private well or septic system)only if it applies to you | Washtenaw County Health Department, Environmental Health Division | Varies — formula on the Washtenaw County page | per permit | 2026-10-10 |
| Commercial Driveway Approach Permit (county road right-of-way)only if it applies to you | Washtenaw County Road Commission | Varies — formula on the Washtenaw 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 retail store in Washtenaw County?
There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 10 records listed for a retail store in Washtenaw County, MI, 2 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 10 are charged as a range or a formula set by the issuing agency, and 2 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).
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 retail store 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.
- Washtenaw County Health Department, Environmental Health DivisionIssues 3 permits on this page: Food Service Establishment License (fixed, seasonal or non-profit), Food Service Plan Review (new or remodeled establishments, mobiles and STFUs), Commercial Onsite Sewage and Type II Well Permits (conditional — premises on a private well or septic system)705 N Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48103 · 734-222-3800www.washtenaw.org/envhealth
- Washtenaw County Road CommissionIssues 1 permit on this page: Commercial Driveway Approach Permit (county road right-of-way)www.wcroads.org/permits/permit-fees
- 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 2 permits on this page: General Business License — Michigan state position, Retail Food Establishment LicenseDeborah 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 retail store need in Washtenaw County that other businesses do not?
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 coffee shops; 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, coffee shops 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 coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the food trucks 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 retail store compare with other businesses in Washtenaw County?
The closest match is a coffee shop, which shares 3 of these permits. A coffee shop needs Temporary Food Service Establishment License, Food Service Establishment License and Certified Food Safety Manager, which a retail store does not.
| Business | Its own permits | Shared with a retail store | Only a retail store needs | Only it needs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee shops | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Restaurants | 6 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Food trucks | 7 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| Auto repair shops | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Childcare centres | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| Contractors and trades | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| Fitness studios | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Salons and barbers | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Veterinary clinics | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
Sources
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.
Related
Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.