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11 permits · verified 2026-09-28

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

In short

A restaurant in Franklin County, OH has 3 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 8 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. Franklin County Auditor, Licensing Section charges $50 one-time, per fixed place of business ($25 to the state Organized Crime Commission Fund, $25 to the Franklin County general fund) for the vendor's license (county vendor's license). 3 of the 11 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-09-28 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.

Permits particular to a restaurant in Franklin County

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Vendor's License (County Vendor's License)Franklin County Auditor, Licensing Section$50 one-time, per fixed place of business ($25 to the state Organized Crime Commission Fund, $25 to the Franklin County general fund)standing registration, no renewal required — the Franklin County Auditor's own page states 'There is no annual renewal fee for either license'2026-09-28
Liquor Permits — State Division of Liquor Control (Franklin County)only if it applies to youFranklin County Board of ElectionsNo feenot applicable — Ohio liquor permits are issued by the state Division of Liquor Control2026-09-28
Permanent Food Facility License (FCPH)only if it applies to youFranklin County Public HealthFY2023 FCPH cost-analysis calculated-maximum figures (board.myfcph.org 'Certification of Cost Analysis (M-2)'), the most recent available and closely matching FY2023 actual collected revenue: Level 1, under 25,000 sq ft: $216.00; Level 2, under 25,000 sq ft: $243.42; Level 3, under 25,000 sq ft: $466.02; Level 4, under 25,000 sq ft: $591.04; Level 1, 25,000 sq ft and over: $312.50; Level 2, 25,000 sq ft and over: $328.95; Level 3, 25,000 sq ft and over: $1,167.85; Level 4, 25,000 sq ft and over: $1,238.03. A separate vending-machine-location license under the same filing calculates to up to $16.56.annual; license year runs to February 28/29, renewal window opens February 1, expires March 1, with a 20% late fee on or after March 12026-09-28
Vendor's LicenseOhio Department of Taxation$50 one-time, per fixed locationno renewal — stays in effect until cancelled2026-09-03
Manager Certification in Food Protectiononly if it applies to youOhio Department of Health, Food Safety ProgramNo feenot stated by the Ohio Department of Health2026-09-03
Food Service Operation LicenseOhio Department of Health, Food Safety Program$28 state fee for a commercial operation ($14 non-commercial, $6 per vending machine location), plus a license fee set independently by the local board of health1 March to the last day of February2026-09-03

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 Franklin County

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Commercial Building Permit — State of Ohio Issues (Franklin County)only if it applies to youFranklin County Building DepartmentNo feenot applicable — per the county's Residential Building Permits page, the State of Ohio issues commercial building permits2026-09-28
Zoning Compliance Certificate (residential or commercial)only if it applies to youFranklin County Economic Development & Planning, Planning & Zoning DivisionVaries — formula on the Franklin County pageone-time, per project; typically obtained before or alongside a building permit application2026-09-28
General Business License — Franklin County Auditor positiononly if it applies to youFranklin County Auditor, Licensing SectionNo feenot applicable — the Auditor's Licensing Types page lists no general business license2026-09-28

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

OH 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 Organization (LLC)only if it applies to youOhio Secretary of State, Business Services Division$99 one-time filingno expiry — Ohio requires no annual report2026-09-03
Initial Articles of Incorporationonly if it applies to youOhio Secretary of State, Business Services Division$99 one-time filing, minimum — see notes on authorised sharesno expiry — Ohio requires no annual report2026-09-03

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 Franklin 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 restaurant in Franklin County, OH, 3 apply to every business of this type and 8 are conditional. Adding every fee on the page together would overstate what most operators pay, because it would include permits they never need.

Of the 3 that always apply, 2 carry a flat fee, coming to $100.00. That is a floor, not a total. 3 of the 11 are charged as a range or a formula set by the issuing agency, and 4 have no fee published at all. The ones particular to this business that vary:

Permanent Food Facility License (FCPH): FY2023 FCPH cost-analysis calculated-maximum figures (board.myfcph.org 'Certification of Cost Analysis (M-2)'), the most recent available and closely matching FY2023 actual collected revenue: Level 1, under 25,000 sq ft: $216.00; Level 2, under 25,000 sq ft: $243.42; Level 3, under 25,000 sq ft: $466.02; Level 4, under 25,000 sq ft: $591.04; Level 1, 25,000 sq ft and over: $312.50; Level 2, 25,000 sq ft and over: $328.95; Level 3, 25,000 sq ft and over: $1,167.85; Level 4, 25,000 sq ft and over: $1,238.03. A separate vending-machine-location license under the same filing calculates to up to $16.56.

Food Service Operation License: $28 state fee for a commercial operation ($14 non-commercial, $6 per vending machine location), plus a license fee set independently by the local board of health

The other 1 variable fee belongs to permits that apply to every type of business here; its formula is set out on the Franklin County permits page and the OH state page.

Which offices issue these permits in Franklin County?

Permits for a restaurant in Franklin County, OH come from 8 separate offices: Franklin County Auditor, Licensing Section, Franklin County Board of Elections, Franklin County Building Department, Franklin County Economic Development & Planning, Planning & Zoning Division, Franklin County Public Health, Ohio Department of Taxation, Ohio Secretary of State, Business Services Division, Ohio Department of Health, Food Safety Program. 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 Franklin County that other businesses do not?

Food Service Operation License

There is no single Ohio restaurant license fee. The state's share is fixed by rule at $28 for a commercial food service operation of any size or risk level, $14 non-commercial and $6 per vending machine location; the rest is set by whichever of roughly a hundred and ten local boards of health licenses your address. Under rule 3701-21-02 the license is issued by the local board of health; the Department of Health approves those boards and binds them to a uniform method, so every district's schedule has the same shape: four risk levels by two floor-area bands, commercial or non-commercial, with non-commercial fixed at exactly half of commercial. Each district must run an annual cost analysis and hold a public hearing before changing its figure. Renewal is due by 1 March and a late application costs a further 25 per cent. Only the vending machine fee is capped against inflation; restaurant and mobile fees are not.

Shared with other businesses in Franklin County

  • Vendor's License (County Vendor's License) — Franklin County Auditor, Licensing Section, $50 one-time, per fixed place of business ($25 to the state Organized Crime Commission Fund, $25 to the Franklin County general fund), standing registration, no renewal required — the Franklin County Auditor's own page states 'There is no annual renewal fee for either license'. Also required for coffee shops, food trucks, retail stores, salons and barbers, auto repair shops and fitness studios; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
  • Liquor Permits — State Division of Liquor Control (Franklin County) — Franklin County Board of Elections, No fee, not applicable — Ohio liquor permits are issued by the state Division of Liquor Control. Also required for coffee shops and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
  • Permanent Food Facility License (FCPH) — Franklin County Public Health, FY2023 FCPH cost-analysis calculated-maximum figures (board.myfcph.org 'Certification of Cost Analysis (M-2)'), the most recent available and closely matching FY2023 actual collected revenue: Level 1, under 25,000 sq ft: $216.00; Level 2, under 25,000 sq ft: $243.42; Level 3, under 25,000 sq ft: $466.02; Level 4, under 25,000 sq ft: $591.04; Level 1, 25,000 sq ft and over: $312.50; Level 2, 25,000 sq ft and over: $328.95; Level 3, 25,000 sq ft and over: $1,167.85; Level 4, 25,000 sq ft and over: $1,238.03. A separate vending-machine-location license under the same filing calculates to up to $16.56., annual; license year runs to February 28/29, renewal window opens February 1, expires March 1, with a 20% late fee on or after March 1. Also required for coffee shops, retail stores and childcare centres; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
  • Vendor's License — Ohio Department of Taxation, $50 one-time, per fixed location, no renewal — stays in effect until cancelled. Also required for coffee shops, retail stores, salons and barbers, fitness studios, auto repair shops and veterinary clinics; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
  • Manager Certification in Food Protection — Ohio Department of Health, Food Safety Program, No fee, not stated by the Ohio Department of Health. Also required for coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.

The other 3 local permits in the tables apply to every type of business in Franklin County, OH; what each one involves is set out on the Franklin County permits page. The 2 state-level registrations apply to every type of business across OH and are covered on the OH state page.

How does a restaurant compare with other businesses in Franklin County?

A restaurant and a coffee shop in Franklin County, OH need exactly the same 6 permits beyond the ones every business needs.

Permits particular to each business type in Franklin County, OH, compared with a restaurant
BusinessIts own permitsShared with a restaurantOnly a restaurant needsOnly it needs
Coffee shops6600
Retail stores5421
Food trucks6333
Fitness studios3241
Auto repair shops4242
Salons and barbers5243
Childcare centres3152
Veterinary clinics5154
Contractors and trades2062

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 coffee shops page and retail stores page. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the Franklin County permits page and the OH state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.

  1. OAC 3701-21-02 — the state amounts a licensor collects and remits: twenty-eight dollars for food service and retail food licenses, fourteen dollars for the mobile-discount category and six dollars for vending machine locationsOhio Department of Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-30

Related

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