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

Weights & Measures Device Inspection and Sealing

A business that sells by weight, volume, time or length in Clermont County, such as a grocery or deli with a scale, a gas station or repair shop with fuel dispensers or air pumps, or a car wash with timed vacuums, has its devices tested and sealed by the Clermont County Auditor. The Auditor's Weights & Measures page lists retail motor fuel dispensers, scales, timing devices, length meters, price verification, and bulk fuel and LPG truck meters as priority areas, and states that 'Devices are inspected and tested on an annual basis unless more frequent interaction is required' and that audits are generally unannounced. There is no fee: the page states that 'Weights & Measures services are provided free of charge.' The seal 'is valid through the end of the following calendar year (i.e., a 2025 seal is valid until 12/31/2026).' A device that fails may lead to a re-audit, a Notice of Violation, a Stop Sale Order or prosecution, per the same page. Contact the department at 513-732-7150.

Food Service Operation / Retail Food Establishment License

Clermont County Public Health's Food Safety Program 'licenses and inspects establishments that prepare and sell food in Clermont County.' Its Food Safety page describes the Food Service Operation (FSO) license as issued 'to a location or area where food is prepared and served in individual portions', such as restaurants and cafeterias, and the Retail Food Establishment (RFE) license as issued 'to a facility that sells prepackaged food items or sells multiple servings of food products', such as grocery stores, gas stations and most pizza shops. Clermont County Public Health's About page states that the agency 'serves approximately 214,000 residents in 14 townships and nine villages in Clermont County and contracts for public health services with the City of Milford.' The fees change on December 1, 2026. The amounts in effect through November 30, 2026 are the totals printed in the Clermont County Public Health 'FEE SCHEDULE (updated 11/12/25)', which the Food Safety page links as 'Fee Schedule', where the food rows carry the effective date 12/1/2025. The amounts from December 1, 2026 are the totals adopted by Board of Health Resolution No. 12-26, adopted October 14, 2026 after a public hearing on September 9, 2026, which states that the revised food, vending, temporary, mobile, pool and body art fees 'hereby become effective on December 1, 2026'; the Board of Health page links the resolution under 'Recent/Pending Resolutions and Public Announcements'. Most rows go down slightly; commercial risk levels 1 and 2 under 25,000 sq ft and non-commercial risk levels 1 and 2 under 25,000 sq ft go up. The CCPH Food License Application states that 'There is a mandatory penalty fee of 25% of the renewal fee for operating a food service operation or retail food establishment after the deadline (Chapter 3717 of the Ohio Revised Code).' The licensing period runs from March 1 to the last day of February, per the Temporary Food License Application Packet.

Vendor's License

The fee doubled from $25 to $50 on 9 April 2025 under House Bill 366, and the Department's own older PDF guidance still prints $25 — check the date on anything you read. One license per fixed location, so a second shop means a second $50. The license number is keyed to the county, but the fee is statutory and identical in all eighty-eight; the county auditor is a filing channel, not a separate charge. It is not only for goods: certain taxable services, including landscaping, building maintenance and janitorial work, private security and dry cleaning, need one too. An out-of-state seller with economic nexus registers free.

Shared with other businesses in Clermont County

• Retail Cigarette Dealer's License — Clermont County Auditor, $125 a year, per the Clermont County Auditor's Cigarette Licensing page; new retail licenses bought after June 1 are prorated, one year, June 1 to May 31; the Auditor's page states 'The current licensing period is June,1, 2026 to May 31, 2027'. Also required for coffee shops and restaurants; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
• Food Facility Plan Review — Clermont County Public Health, Per the CCPH FEE SCHEDULE (updated 11/12/25), rows effective 12/1/2023: $250 for risk level 1 or 2 under 2,500 sq ft; $620 for risk level 3 or 4 under 2,500 sq ft, or any risk level over 2,500 sq ft; $100 for a major update to plans. Resolution No. 12-26 does not list these rows, so the same amounts apply after December 1, 2026., one-time, per construction or renovation project. Also required for restaurants, coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
• Vending Machine Location License — Clermont County Public Health, Total fee for each vending location (operation): $28.54 through November 30, 2026 (FEE SCHEDULE updated 11/12/25, effective 12/1/2025) → $35.15 from December 1, 2026 (Resolution No. 12-26)., licensing period March 1 to the last day of February, per the Temporary Food License Application Packet. Also required for fitness studios and auto repair shops; what it involves is set out on the auto repair shops page.
• Transient Vendor's License — Ohio Department of Taxation, $50 one-time, valid statewide, no renewal — stays in effect until cancelled. Also required for food trucks; what it involves is set out on the food trucks page.