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

Food Facility Plan Review

Opening a new or remodeled restaurant, coffee shop or food store in Mahoning County outside the City of Youngstown carries a plan review fee to Mahoning County Public Health, set by the same four risk levels and the 25,000 sq ft line as the food license. The figures are as published under 'Plan Review Fee' in the 'MAHONING COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH FEE SCHEDULE 2026', MCPH's county fee schedule linked from its Current Fees page, and the 2026 Food Fee Summary Sheet repeats them in its 'Plan Review Fee' column, printing 'N/A' for mobile, vending and temporary licenses. The food block of that schedule is headed 'Adopted 1/21/26 EFFECTIVE 2/1/26 ALL FEES INCLUDE STATE REMITTANCE', and MCPH's 2026 Food Fee Summary Sheet states 'The above fee schedule is active February 1st, 2026 – December 31st, 2026'; MCPH's Current Fees page links only the 2026 schedule. Plan review sits alongside the annual food license, not in place of it. Scope: Youngstown has its own health district. MCPH's food page states that 'Mahoning County businesses (except in the city of Youngstown) selling, preparing and/or serving food must meet the requirements of the Ohio Uniform Food Safety Code and be licensed by Mahoning County Public Health', and its tattoo page states that 'all facilities and artists located within Youngstown city limits fall under the authority of the Youngstown City Health District and are not subject to Mahoning County's regulations.' A business inside Youngstown city limits deals with the Youngstown City Health District, and the MCPH figures here do not apply there.

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 Mahoning County

• Vending Machine Location / Commissary License — Mahoning County Public Health, $25.60 per location or commissary, per license year — combined MCPH + state fee: $19.60 MCPH + $6.00 state = $25.60; late fee $4.90, delinquent total $30.50, annual; MCPH's food page states that 'The licensing year is from March 1 to the last day of February the following year'. Also required for fitness studios; what it involves is set out on the fitness studios page.
• Food Service Operation / Retail Food Establishment License — Mahoning County Public Health, Combined MCPH + $28 state fee, commercial. Under 25,000 sq ft: Level I $286.00 ($258 + $28); Level II $318.00 ($290 + $28); Level III $585.00 ($557 + $28); Level IV $735.00 ($707 + $28). 25,000 sq ft and over: Level I $401.00 ($373 + $28); Level II $421.00 ($393 + $28); Level III $1,426.00 ($1,398 + $28); Level IV $1,511.00 ($1,483 + $28). Late fee: 25% of the MCPH portion ($64.50 / $72.50 / $139.25 / $176.75 under 25,000 sq ft; $93.25 / $98.25 / $349.50 / $370.75 at 25,000 sq ft and over)., annual; MCPH's food page states that 'The licensing year is from March 1 to the last day of February the following year'. Also required for restaurants, coffee shops and childcare centres; what it involves is set out on the childcare centres 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.