What permits do you need to open a coffee shop in Santa Fe County?

Food Establishment Permit

As amended effective 1 October 2026 (New Mexico Register Vol. XXXVII, Issue 12, 23 June 2026), section 8-303.15 sets a $200 permit fee for food establishments, mobile food establishments, servicing areas and food processing plants, and $25 for a temporary food establishment per single event or celebration. The same amendment raised the late renewal fee from $25 to $175 and the re-inspection fee from $100 to $500, and added a $400 variance application fee and plan review fees: $300, $600 or $900 for a food establishment (up to 1,000, 1,001–2,000, or over 2,000 square feet of kitchen, storage and ware-washing area) and $400, $900 or $1,400 for a food processing plant. Permit fees are waived for operations that provide food at no charge, and for temporary food establishments serving only non-TCS food or operating no more than two days in a calendar month. The amendment also repealed the home-based food processing section and its $100 permit tier. The Environment Department's food program states that it 'does not have jurisdiction in Bernalillo County and Albuquerque, as they have their own food safety programs'.

Food Handler Card

No state fee is set — the Environment Department's training page states the card is obtained through an accredited food handler training program. Under section 2-104.11 of 7.6.2.8 NMAC (carried unchanged into the 1 October 2026 amendment), food employees must pass a food handler training test and hold a valid card, obtained within 30 calendar days of starting work and valid for three years from issuance. The rule exempts certified food protection managers, employees of an entity whose own training program the department has approved, employees who do not prepare or handle time/temperature control for safety food, people who only occasionally function as food employees, workers at temporary food establishments (where the person in charge must hold a card or manager certification), and volunteers for charitable organizations serving the needy; exempt workers must receive documented food safety training from the employer. Separately, section 2-102.12 requires at least one supervisory employee per food establishment to be a certified food protection manager.

Shared with other businesses in Santa Fe County

• Annual Fire Inspection (listed occupancy groups) — Santa Fe County Fire Department, Fire Prevention Division, $50–$150 a year, by business floor area: 1,500 sq ft or less $50.00; 1,501-3,000 sq ft $75.00; 3,001-6,000 sq ft $100.00; 6,001-9,000 sq ft $125.00; "more than 9,001 square feet" $150.00; reinspections $50.00; paid by the property owner before the inspection, annual, each year after operations begin. Also required for restaurants, fitness studios, childcare centres and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
• Temporary Use Permit — Santa Fe County Growth Management Department, Building and Development Services Division, $125 per temporary use permit (Code §37.06), per permit. Also required for retail stores and restaurants; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.