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11 permits · verified 2026-10-10

What permits do you need to open a retail store in Burlington County?

In short

A retail store in Burlington County, NJ has 1 permit that applies to every business of this type, plus 10 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. New Jersey Department of the Treasury, Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services charges $75 a year; $30 for a nonprofit for the annual report. 6 of the 11 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 Burlington County

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Kennel, Pet Shop, Shelter Application (New, Remodel or Conversion)only if it applies to youBurlington County Health Department, Environmental SectionThe application fee is not published on the county's Application for Kennel, Pet Shop, Shelter or in the county Health Department's plan review fee memo; contact the Burlington County Health Department Environmental Section at 609-265-5516 for the current amount.one-time, per new, remodelled or converted facility2026-10-10
Retail Food Establishment Plan Review (New or Alteration)only if it applies to youBurlington County Health Department, Environmental SectionPer the county Health Department's plan review fee memo (effective January 1, 2021): new establishment plan review $100.00; alteration plan review $75.00; re-inspection fee $50.00. The county's retail food application packet (Updated 2023) prints the same $100.00 new and $75.00 alteration fees and states 'NON Profit Organizations- Fee Waived'. Checks payable to the County of Burlington.one-time, per new or altered facility2026-10-10
Scale Certification for Food Sold by the Poundonly if it applies to youBurlington County Health Department, Weights and Measures DivisionThe scale certification fee is not published on the county's Retail Food Program page or its Weights & Measures page; contact the Burlington County Weights and Measures Division at 609-265-5098 for the current amount.not stated on the county's Retail Food Program page2026-10-10

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

Local permits that apply to every type of business in Burlington County

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Septic System and Potable Well Permits (Plan Review and Inspection)only if it applies to youBurlington County Health Department, Environmental SectionVaries — formula on the Burlington County pageper application2026-10-10
County Planning Board Site Plan Review (County Roads and Drainage)only if it applies to youBurlington County Planning BoardVaries — formula on the Burlington County pageone-time, per application2026-10-10
County Road Occupancy, Road Opening and Driveway Access Permitonly if it applies to youBurlington County Department of Public Works, Engineering DivisionVaries — formula on the Burlington 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.

NJ 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
Annual Reportonly if it applies to youNew Jersey Department of the Treasury, Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services$75 a year; $30 for a nonprofitannual — due the last day of the entity's anniversary month2026-09-03
General Business License — New Jersey Business Action Center Positiononly if it applies to youNew Jersey Department of the Treasury, Division of Revenue and Enterprise ServicesNo feeset by the municipality2026-09-03
Certificate of Incorporationonly if it applies to youNew Jersey Department of the Treasury, Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services$100 one-time filingno expiry, but an annual report is due each anniversary month2026-09-03
Certificate of Formation (LLC)only if it applies to youNew Jersey Department of the Treasury, Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services$100 one-time filingno expiry, but an annual report is due each anniversary month2026-09-03
Business Registration (Form NJ-REG)New Jersey Department of the Treasury, Division of Revenue and Enterprise ServicesNo feeone-time registration — no renewal2026-09-03

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 Burlington County?

There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 11 records listed for a retail store in Burlington County, NJ, 1 apply to every business of this type and 10 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 11 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:

Kennel, Pet Shop, Shelter Application (New, Remodel or Conversion): The application fee is not published on the county's Application for Kennel, Pet Shop, Shelter or in the county Health Department's plan review fee memo; contact the Burlington County Health Department Environmental Section at 609-265-5516 for the current amount.

Retail Food Establishment Plan Review (New or Alteration): Per the county Health Department's plan review fee memo (effective January 1, 2021): new establishment plan review $100.00; alteration plan review $75.00; re-inspection fee $50.00. The county's retail food application packet (Updated 2023) prints the same $100.00 new and $75.00 alteration fees and states 'NON Profit Organizations- Fee Waived'. Checks payable to the County of Burlington.

Scale Certification for Food Sold by the Pound: The scale certification fee is not published on the county's Retail Food Program page or its Weights & Measures page; contact the Burlington County Weights and Measures Division at 609-265-5098 for the current amount.

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

Which offices issue these permits in Burlington County?

Permits for a retail store in Burlington County, NJ come from 5 separate offices: Burlington County Health Department, Environmental Section, Burlington County Planning Board, Burlington County Department of Public Works, Engineering Division, Burlington County Health Department, Weights and Measures Division, New Jersey Department of the Treasury, Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services. No single office issues them all, which is why an opening means filing in several places rather than one.

What does a retail store need in Burlington County that other businesses do not?

Retail Food Establishment Plan Review (New or Alteration)

The county's fee memo for Retail Food, Recreational Bathing, Body Art and Mobile/Temporary Establishments states that 'The above charges became effective on January 1, 2021' (marked 'Revised 1/21'), and the county's current Environmental Health page links it under the label 'NEW FEES for Retail Food, Body Art, Bathing Places and Mobile/Temporary Establishments'. The memo states that checks are payable to the County of Burlington, that applications received without the required fee are returned without action, and that inspectors are not authorized to receive payments. The county resolution adopting the memo is not published on the county site. The county's Application for a Retail Food Service Facility packet (Updated 2023) sets out the steps: apply to the Health Department, which has 30 business days to review the application; on approval an architectural approval letter goes to the applicant and the township, and the packet states that 'Township permits may not be released to start construction until BCHD architectural approval letter is received'; a pre-opening inspection follows with 3 to 5 business days' notice, at which a written report and placard are issued, and an annual inspection takes place about 4 to 12 weeks later. Step 6 of the packet states: 'The applicant must go to the township to apply for a food handlers permit & certificate of occupancy (if applicable)'. The packet requires a Food Protection Manager's Certificate for risk level 3 establishments, and for risk level 2 establishments in Beverly, Chesterfield, Cinnaminson, Evesham, Lumberton, Maple Shade, Moorestown, Palmyra, Pemberton Borough, Southampton and Westampton. The Retail Food Program page lists restaurants, bakeries, delis, supermarkets, catering facilities and institutions among the establishments it inspects. The New Jersey Department of Health's Directory of Local Health Departments, dated 10/05/2026, lists the Burlington County Health Department as the local health department for all 40 municipalities in the county.

Scale Certification for Food Sold by the Pound

The county's Retail Food Program page states: 'If you are selling food by the pound, you must contact the Weights and Measures Division of the Health Department to have your scale properly certified. For Weights and Measures, please call 609-265-5098.' Neither page states a fee or a certification period, so this record carries no dollar figure. A restaurant, coffee shop or store needs this only if it sells food priced by weight.

Shared with other businesses in Burlington County

  • Kennel, Pet Shop, Shelter Application (New, Remodel or Conversion) — Burlington County Health Department, Environmental Section, The application fee is not published on the county's Application for Kennel, Pet Shop, Shelter or in the county Health Department's plan review fee memo; contact the Burlington County Health Department Environmental Section at 609-265-5516 for the current amount., one-time, per new, remodelled or converted facility. Also required for veterinary clinics; what it involves is set out on the veterinary clinics page.

The other 3 local permits in the tables apply to every type of business in Burlington County, NJ; what each one involves is set out on the Burlington County permits page. The 5 state-level registrations apply to every type of business across NJ and are covered on the NJ state page.

How does a retail store compare with other businesses in Burlington County?

The closest match is a coffee shop, which shares 2 of these permits. A retail store also needs Kennel, Pet Shop, Shelter Application (New, Remodel or Conversion). A coffee shop needs Mobile / Temporary Retail Food Establishment Approval (Food Trucks, Carts, Tabletop and Tent Set-Ups), Retail Food Establishment License and Certified Food Protection Manager, which a retail store does not.

Permits particular to each business type in Burlington County, NJ, compared with a retail store
BusinessIts own permitsShared with a retail storeOnly a retail store needsOnly it needs
Coffee shops5213
Restaurants5213
Veterinary clinics3122
Auto repair shops2032
Childcare centres1031
Contractors and trades3033
Fitness studios1031
Food trucks3033
Salons and barbers2032

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. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the Burlington County permits page and the NJ state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.

  1. Burlington County Health Department memorandum, Retail Food, Recreational Bathing, Body Art Establishment Plan Review Fee Schedule (effective January 1, 2021; Revised 1/21)Burlington County, New Jersey · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-10
  2. Burlington County Health Department, Application for a Retail Food Service Facility, Packet (Updated 2023)Burlington County, New Jersey · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-10
  3. Burlington County Health Department, Retail Food Program pageBurlington County, New Jersey · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-10
  4. Burlington County Health Department, Environmental Health pageBurlington County, New Jersey · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-10
  5. Directory of Local Health Departments in New Jersey (dated 10/05/2026)New Jersey Department of Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-08
  6. Burlington County Health Department, Weights & Measures pageBurlington County, New Jersey · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-10

Related

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