What permits do you need to open a restaurant in New Hanover County?

Limited Food Service Establishment Permit

A limited food service establishment in New Hanover County pays Environmental Health a $75.00 annual fee, listed as 'Limited Food Service Establishment/Annual Fee $75.00'. The figure is as published on the Environmental Health page of Exhibit 3 (Health) of the New Hanover County Fee Schedule FY26-27, headed 'Environmental Health Fee Schedule Effective 07/01/2026'; the schedule's footer reads 'Fee Schedule FY26-27 (Revised 7-01-26)'. The NCDHHS Division of Public Health position statement 'Food and Lodging Permit Fee Changes', dated July 30, 2013 and issued pursuant to Session Law 2013-360, states: 'Effective August 1, 2013 local health departments are to charge a $75 fee for each permit issued to a temporary food establishment or limited food service establishment.' The same statement says the state Environmental Health Section does not assess its own fee for these establishments. The county amount matches the $75 the statement describes.

Hood-Suppression System Permit

A restaurant, coffee shop or commissary kitchen installing or working on a kitchen hood fire-suppression system pays $100 plus $10 per 1,000 square feet, with a $110 minimum, under the line 'Hood-Suppression Systems (Minimum $110)'. The line sits in the 'Fire Prevention Fees' section of Exhibit 1, under 'Permits/Verifications for Other Than New Construction'. The figure is as published in Exhibit 1 (Building Safety) of the New Hanover County Fee Schedule FY26-27, whose footer reads 'Fee Schedule FY26-27 (Revised 7-01-26)'.

Fire Alcohol Licensing Inspection (unincorporated county)

A restaurant, coffee shop or store applying for an alcohol license in the area New Hanover County Fire Rescue serves pays $75 for the fire inspection, the Exhibit 2 line 'Alcohol Licensing Inspection $75' under operating permits and inspections. The figure is as published in Exhibit 2 (Fire Rescue Fee Schedule) of the New Hanover County Fee Schedule FY26-27, whose footer reads 'Fee Schedule FY26-27 (Revised 7-01-26)'. The county's About NHC Fire Rescue page states: 'New Hanover County provides fire protection services to the unincorporated areas of New Hanover County.' The Fire Inspections & Permits page gives New Hanover County Fire Rescue's contact as 230 Government Center Drive, Suite 130, Wilmington, non-emergency phone 910-798-7420.

Place of Assembly Fire Permit (unincorporated county)

A restaurant, event space or fitness facility with an occupancy of 50 or more in the area New Hanover County Fire Rescue serves pays a Place of Assembly fire permit fee by occupancy: $75 for 50 to 99, $125 for 100 to 300, $175 for 301 to 500, and $250 for more than 500. The schedule notes that church sanctuaries are exempt from permit fees. The figure is as published in Exhibit 2 (Fire Rescue Fee Schedule) of the New Hanover County Fee Schedule FY26-27, whose footer reads 'Fee Schedule FY26-27 (Revised 7-01-26)'. The county's About NHC Fire Rescue page states: 'New Hanover County provides fire protection services to the unincorporated areas of New Hanover County.' The Fire Inspections & Permits page gives New Hanover County Fire Rescue's contact as 230 Government Center Drive, Suite 130, Wilmington, non-emergency phone 910-798-7420. A business with an occupancy below 50 falls outside the occupancy bands this record lists.

Shared with other businesses in New Hanover County

• County Beer and Wine Business/Privilege License — New Hanover County Finance Department, $5–$50 a year per license, by category: Beer on premises $25; Beer off premises $5; Beer on and off premises $25; Beer and Wine on premises $50; Beer and Wine off premises $30; Beer and Wine on and off premises $50; Beer on, Wine off premises $50; Wine on premises, off premises, or on and off premises $25 (New Hanover County Fee Schedule FY26-27), annual; the Business / Privilege Licenses page states 'The license is valid for one year and must be renewed prior to July 1st of each year.'. Also required for coffee shops and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
• Food Service Plan Review (restaurants, food stands, mobile food units and pushcarts) — New Hanover County Public Health, Environmental Health, Non-prototype/Independent Restaurants, Food Stands & Mobile Food Units $250.00; Pushcarts $100.00; Renovations/Changes (changes in dimension of food preparation area, seating capacity or addition of room) $250.00 (Exhibit 3, Environmental Health Fee Schedule Effective 07/01/2026). For prototype restaurants and food stands the schedule lists 'NCDHHS - EH Section Approval Letter' in place of a county amount., one-time, per project. Also required for coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the food trucks page.
• Temporary Food Establishment Permit — New Hanover County Public Health, Environmental Health, $75 per permit, per event, per permit. Also required for coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the food trucks page.
• Certified Food Protection Manager — North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Environmental Health Section, No fee, not stated in North Carolina law — the certifying programme sets its own. Also required for coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
• Food Establishment Permit — North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Environmental Health Section, $120 a year, statewide, the permit does not expire; the fee is reassessed annually. Also required for coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.