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14 permits · verified 2026-09-08

What permits do you need to open a restaurant in Minneapolis?

In short

A restaurant in Minneapolis, MN has 8 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 6 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. Minneapolis Fire Department, Fire Inspection Services charges $146.80 flat for the commercial hood cleaning permit. 5 of the 14 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-09-08 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.

Permits particular to a restaurant in Minneapolis

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Commercial Hood Cleaning PermitMinneapolis Fire Department, Fire Inspection Services$146.80 flatnot stated in the published fee schedule2026-09-08
Commercial Building RegistrationMinneapolis Fire Department, Fire Inspection Services$58–$1,260 a year, by square footage — $58 (0–5,000 sq ft) up to $1,260 (over 2,000,000 sq ft)annual — any building the state building and fire code applies to that isn't used for living2026-09-08
Restaurant LicenseCity of Minneapolis, Business Licenses & Consumer ServicesBy square footage: $431 (up to 1,000 sq ft), $567 (1,001–3,000), $719 (3,001–5,000), $856 (5,001–7,000), $1,003 (7,001–9,000), $1,139 (9,001–11,000), $1,286 (11,001–13,000), $1,423 (13,001–15,000), $1,706 (15,001+). The $147 New License Processing Charge applies on top for a new application.annual — expires April 12026-09-08
Sign PermitCity of Minneapolis, Construction Code ServicesOn-premises permanent sign $215; on-premises temporary sign $50; off-premises advertising sign $1,250. A $1.00 Minnesota State Surcharge is added on top of each.one-time, per sign2026-09-08
Certified Food Protection Manageronly if it applies to youMinnesota Department of Health, Food, Pools and Lodging Services$45 certification or renewal, plus a $5 technology fee3 years2026-09-03
Food and Beverage Establishment LicenseMinnesota Department of Health, Food, Pools and Lodging Services$300 base plus a category fee of $185 low risk, $430 medium or $670 high, plus a $50 statewide hospitality fee and a $5 technology fee — or a delegated county's own scheduleannual2026-09-03

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 Minneapolis

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
General Business License — Minneapolis Activity-Specific License Listonly if it applies to youCity of Minneapolis, Business Licenses & Consumer ServicesNo feenot applicable2026-09-08
Certificate of OccupancyCity of Minneapolis, Construction Code ServicesNo feerequired before occupying a new building or a new use of an existing one (MSBC section 1300.0220)2026-09-08
Commercial Building PermitCity of Minneapolis, Construction Code ServicesVaries — formula on the Minneapolis pageone-time, per project2026-09-08

Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.

MN 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 Incorporationonly if it applies to youOffice of the Minnesota Secretary of State, Business Services Division$135 one-time filing by post; $155 online or in personperpetual, subject to a free annual renewal every December2026-09-03
General Business License — Minnesota state positiononly if it applies to youOffice of the Minnesota Secretary of State, Business Services DivisionNo feeset by the city2026-09-03
Articles of Organization (LLC)only if it applies to youOffice of the Minnesota Secretary of State, Business Services Division$135 one-time filing by post; $155 online or in personperpetual, subject to a free annual renewal every December2026-09-03
Annual Renewalonly if it applies to youOffice of the Minnesota Secretary of State, Business Services DivisionNo feeannual — due by 31 December every year after the year of formation2026-09-03
Sales and Use Tax AccountMinnesota Department of Revenue, Business RegistrationNo feevalid until cancelled or revoked2026-09-03

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 Minneapolis?

There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 14 records listed for a restaurant in Minneapolis, MN, 8 apply to every business of this type and 6 are conditional. Adding every fee on the page together would overstate what most operators pay, because it would include permits they never need.

Of the 8 that always apply, 1 carry a flat fee, coming to $146.80. That is a floor, not a total. 5 of the 14 are charged as a range or a formula set by the issuing agency, and 5 have no fee published at all. The ones particular to this business that vary:

Commercial Building Registration: $58–$1,260 a year, by square footage — $58 (0–5,000 sq ft) up to $1,260 (over 2,000,000 sq ft)

Restaurant License: By square footage: $431 (up to 1,000 sq ft), $567 (1,001–3,000), $719 (3,001–5,000), $856 (5,001–7,000), $1,003 (7,001–9,000), $1,139 (9,001–11,000), $1,286 (11,001–13,000), $1,423 (13,001–15,000), $1,706 (15,001+). The $147 New License Processing Charge applies on top for a new application.

Sign Permit: On-premises permanent sign $215; on-premises temporary sign $50; off-premises advertising sign $1,250. A $1.00 Minnesota State Surcharge is added on top of each.

Food and Beverage Establishment License: $300 base plus a category fee of $185 low risk, $430 medium or $670 high, plus a $50 statewide hospitality fee and a $5 technology fee — or a delegated county's own schedule

The other 1 variable fee belongs to permits that apply to every type of business here; its formula is set out on the Minneapolis permits page and the MN state page.

Which offices issue these permits in Minneapolis?

Permits for a restaurant in Minneapolis, MN come from 6 separate offices: Minneapolis Fire Department, Fire Inspection Services, City of Minneapolis, Business Licenses & Consumer Services, City of Minneapolis, Construction Code Services, Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State, Business Services Division, Minnesota Department of Health, Food, Pools and Lodging Services, Minnesota Department of Revenue, Business Registration. 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 Minneapolis that other businesses do not?

Commercial Hood Cleaning Permit

The Fire Inspections License & Permit Fee Schedule lists a flat $146.80 fee for a permit to clean a commercial hood. Its separate Operational Permits list (blasting, cutting and welding, dry cleaning plants, high-piled storage, industrial ovens and similar) does not list ordinary restaurant cooking, so this hood-cleaning permit is the specific fire fee that applies to a commercial kitchen.

Restaurant License

Issued by CPED's Business Licenses & Consumer Services; the Health Department's Environmental Health division does plan review and inspection. Minnesota law requires a full-time Certified Food Protection Manager within 45 days of opening — no fixed government fee exists for that certification, since it is a private accredited-exam cost.

Shared with other businesses in Minneapolis

  • Commercial Building Registration — Minneapolis Fire Department, Fire Inspection Services, $58–$1,260 a year, by square footage — $58 (0–5,000 sq ft) up to $1,260 (over 2,000,000 sq ft), annual — any building the state building and fire code applies to that isn't used for living. Also required for coffee shops, retail stores, salons and barbers, fitness studios, auto repair shops and veterinary clinics; what it involves is set out on the veterinary clinics page.
  • Sign Permit — City of Minneapolis, Construction Code Services, On-premises permanent sign $215; on-premises temporary sign $50; off-premises advertising sign $1,250. A $1.00 Minnesota State Surcharge is added on top of each., one-time, per sign. Also required for coffee shops, retail stores, salons and barbers, fitness studios, auto repair shops and veterinary clinics; what it involves is set out on the fitness studios page.
  • Certified Food Protection Manager — Minnesota Department of Health, Food, Pools and Lodging Services, $45 certification or renewal, plus a $5 technology fee, 3 years. Also required for coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
  • Food and Beverage Establishment License — Minnesota Department of Health, Food, Pools and Lodging Services, $300 base plus a category fee of $185 low risk, $430 medium or $670 high, plus a $50 statewide hospitality fee and a $5 technology fee — or a delegated county's own schedule, annual. 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 Minneapolis, MN; what each one involves is set out on the Minneapolis permits page. The 5 state-level registrations apply to every type of business across MN and are covered on the MN state page.

How does a restaurant compare with other businesses in Minneapolis?

A restaurant and a coffee shop in Minneapolis, MN need exactly the same 6 permits beyond the ones every business needs.

Permits particular to each business type in Minneapolis, MN, compared with a restaurant
BusinessIts own permitsShared with a restaurantOnly a restaurant needsOnly it needs
Coffee shops6600
Fitness studios2240
Retail stores2240
Auto repair shops4242
Food trucks4242
Veterinary clinics4242
Salons and barbers5243
Childcare centres2062
Contractors and trades4064

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 veterinary clinics page, fitness studios page and coffee shops page. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the Minneapolis permits page and the MN state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.

  1. Fire Inspections License & Permit Fee ScheduleMinneapolis Fire Department, Fire Inspection Services · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-08
  2. City of Minneapolis License Fees 2026City of Minneapolis, Business Licenses & Consumer Services · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-08
  3. City of Minneapolis — Food Establishment License Application PacketCity of Minneapolis · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-08

Related

Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.