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11 permits · verified 2026-10-13

What permits do you need to open a restaurant in Washington County Mn?

In short

A restaurant in Washington County Mn, MN has 2 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 9 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State, Business Services Division charges $135 one-time filing by post; $155 online or in person for the articles of incorporation. 5 of the 11 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-10-13 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.

Permits particular to a restaurant in Washington County Mn

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Special Event Food Stand Licenseonly if it applies to youWashington County Public Health and Environment$150; $0 for nonprofit organizations (proof of status required); a $30 late fee applies if the application is received three calendar days or less before the eventcovers a stand operating no more than ten total days in the current calendar year2026-10-13
Alcohol License (six townships)only if it applies to youWashington County Property Records and Taxpayer ServicesThe county's Business Licenses page lists no alcohol license fee; contact Property Records and Taxpayer Services at 651-430-6175 for the current amount.annual; renewals are processed by December 31 each year2026-10-13
Food Establishment Licenseonly if it applies to youWashington County Public Health and EnvironmentFor Full Service, Deli/Fast Food/Coffee Shop, Caterer/Commissary and Seasonal Food Establishment licenses, the 2026 Fees and Definitions table sets the annual fee in two tiers by number of employees; the amount for an establishment is stated on the invoice PHE emails after the application. Single-figure rows on the same 2026 table: Limited Food Establishment $481; Additional Facility – Bar $214 each; Additional Facility – Kitchen $253 each. Plan review: Equipment Remodeling $152; Minor Remodeling 100% of the annual license fee; Extensive Remodel (including construction of a new food establishment) 150% of the annual license fee; plans submitted less than 30 days before construction pay a late fee of 50% of the original plan review fee. Change of Ownership 50% of the annual license fee. Late renewal: 15% of the total license fee one to seven days late, 25% eight to 30 days late.calendar year; licenses are valid through December 31 annually (Ordinance 215 §5.7)2026-10-13
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 Washington County Mn

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
SSTS (Septic) Installation, Repair and Soil Review Permitonly if it applies to youWashington County Public Health and EnvironmentVaries — formula on the Washington County Mn pageper permit, for the approved installation at the specified location2026-10-13

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 Washington County Mn?

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 Washington County Mn, MN, 2 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.

5 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:

Special Event Food Stand License: $150; $0 for nonprofit organizations (proof of status required); a $30 late fee applies if the application is received three calendar days or less before the event

Alcohol License (six townships): The county's Business Licenses page lists no alcohol license fee; contact Property Records and Taxpayer Services at 651-430-6175 for the current amount.

Food Establishment License: For Full Service, Deli/Fast Food/Coffee Shop, Caterer/Commissary and Seasonal Food Establishment licenses, the 2026 Fees and Definitions table sets the annual fee in two tiers by number of employees; the amount for an establishment is stated on the invoice PHE emails after the application. Single-figure rows on the same 2026 table: Limited Food Establishment $481; Additional Facility – Bar $214 each; Additional Facility – Kitchen $253 each. Plan review: Equipment Remodeling $152; Minor Remodeling 100% of the annual license fee; Extensive Remodel (including construction of a new food establishment) 150% of the annual license fee; plans submitted less than 30 days before construction pay a late fee of 50% of the original plan review fee. Change of Ownership 50% of the annual license fee. Late renewal: 15% of the total license fee one to seven days late, 25% eight to 30 days late.

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 Washington County Mn permits page and the MN state page.

Which offices issue these permits in Washington County Mn?

Permits for a restaurant in Washington County Mn, MN come from 5 separate offices: Washington County Public Health and Environment, Washington County Property Records and Taxpayer 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 Washington County Mn that other businesses do not?

Alcohol License (six townships)

The county's Business Licenses page states that businesses wishing to sell or serve beer, wine and alcohol "must be approved by the city or township where your business is located," and that "Some cities or townships may give Washington County the authority to issue licenses for them. Washington County issues licenses for businesses in these townships: Baytown Township, Denmark Township, Grey Cloud Township, May Township, Stillwater Township, West Lakeland Township." A license is needed to sell beer or malt liquor of 3.2% or less, any liquor products, and for special events serving beer or alcohol. Applicants complete the appropriate application through Minnesota Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement. The county mails a renewal notice to all liquor license holders it licenses; the page notes that some liquor licenses have different renewal dates and are renewed directly through the State. A business outside those six townships applies to its own city or township. Contact Washington County Property Records and Taxpayer Services at 651-430-6175, 14949 62nd Street North, Stillwater, MN 55082.

Shared with other businesses in Washington County Mn

  • Special Event Food Stand License — Washington County Public Health and Environment, $150; $0 for nonprofit organizations (proof of status required); a $30 late fee applies if the application is received three calendar days or less before the event, covers a stand operating no more than ten total days in the current calendar year. Also required for food trucks and coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the food trucks page.
  • Food Establishment License — Washington County Public Health and Environment, For Full Service, Deli/Fast Food/Coffee Shop, Caterer/Commissary and Seasonal Food Establishment licenses, the 2026 Fees and Definitions table sets the annual fee in two tiers by number of employees; the amount for an establishment is stated on the invoice PHE emails after the application. Single-figure rows on the same 2026 table: Limited Food Establishment $481; Additional Facility – Bar $214 each; Additional Facility – Kitchen $253 each. Plan review: Equipment Remodeling $152; Minor Remodeling 100% of the annual license fee; Extensive Remodel (including construction of a new food establishment) 150% of the annual license fee; plans submitted less than 30 days before construction pay a late fee of 50% of the original plan review fee. Change of Ownership 50% of the annual license fee. Late renewal: 15% of the total license fee one to seven days late, 25% eight to 30 days late., calendar year; licenses are valid through December 31 annually (Ordinance 215 §5.7). Also required for coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops 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 1 local permit in the tables apply to every type of business in Washington County Mn, MN; what each one involves is set out on the Washington County Mn 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 Washington County Mn?

The closest match is a coffee shop, which shares 4 of these permits. A restaurant also needs Alcohol License (six townships). A coffee shop needs nothing here that a restaurant does not.

Permits particular to each business type in Washington County Mn, MN, compared with a restaurant
BusinessIts own permitsShared with a restaurantOnly a restaurant needsOnly it needs
Coffee shops4410
Food trucks4321
Retail stores5144
Auto repair shops2052
Childcare centres3053
Contractors and trades4054
Fitness studios1051
Salons and barbers3053
Veterinary clinics2052

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 food trucks page and coffee shops page. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the Washington County Mn permits page and the MN state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.

  1. Business Licenses (alcohol, precious metal dealer, transient merchant)Washington County, Minnesota · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-13

Related

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