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

Retail Cigarette Dealer's License

A store in Warren County that sells cigarettes at retail needs this license from the Warren County Auditor for each physical place of business. The Auditor's page states that 'A Cigarette License may be purchased from the Warren County Auditor's Office for $125.00 for the full year and prorated thereafter,' and asks applicants to contact the office for the prorated amount. The fee is statutory: ORC 5743.15(B)(1) sets 'one hundred twenty-five dollars for each physical place' of business, and (B)(2) issues the license for one year commencing on the first day of June, prorates a license bought later in the year with a minimum of twenty-five dollars, and charges five dollars for a duplicate. Under ORC 5743.15(B)(3) the holder may transfer the license to another place of business within the same county, with ownership and business structure unchanged, on applying to the county auditor and paying 'a fee of five dollars into the county treasury.' Payment is made to the Warren County Treasurer and mailed to the Auditor at 406 Justice Dr., Lebanon.

Food Facility Plan Review (New FSO/RFE)

Before a new food service operation or retail food establishment is built in Warren County, its plans go to the Warren County Health District for review. The fees page lists 'New Commercial or Non-Commercial Facility Plan Review $300.00', the district's Accela page states that 'The plan review fee is $300.00', and its plan review packet states that 'A plan review fee of $300.00 must be submitted along with plans.' The packet adds that 'A plumbing permit cannot be obtained until plan approval through our office is complete,' that a letter on the status of the plans will be sent within thirty days together with a license application, and that the district must be contacted for a licensing inspection before the operation opens. Plans and applications are submitted through the Accela Citizen Access Portal. The Health District's history page states that 'Warren County's health department has evolved into the Warren County Combined Health District, signifying not only health services for the county, but also for the cities of Franklin, Lebanon, Mason, and Springboro.'

Temporary Food Service Operation / Retail Food Establishment License

A business serving or selling food at a festival, fair or other short event in Warren County needs a temporary license from the Warren County Health District. The district's temporary packet (footer 'Temporary Plan Review Application 10/26') defines a temporary operation as one that prepares or serves food 'for a period of no longer than 5 consecutive days,' states 'The fee for a Temporary FSO/RFE license is $100.00. A noncommercial license fee is $50.00' for government agencies, churches, schools, youth groups and 501(c)(3) organizations, and requires the questionnaire, application and license fee 'at least 5 business days prior to the event.' The packet lists sales that need no temporary license, such as beverages that are not time/temperature controlled for safety, prepackaged non-TCS foods with less than 200 cubic feet of display, and uncut fresh fruits and vegetables. Payment can be mailed to 416 S. East Street, Lebanon, or made by card at 513-695-1220. The Health District's history page states that 'Warren County's health department has evolved into the Warren County Combined Health District, signifying not only health services for the county, but also for the cities of Franklin, Lebanon, Mason, and Springboro.'

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 Warren County Oh

• Food Service Operation / Retail Food Establishment License — Warren County Health District, Total Fee, as published on the Warren County Health District's Environmental Health Fee Schedules page. Commercial, less than 25,000 sq ft: Level 1 $228.00, Level 2 $253.00, Level 3 $453.00, Level 4 $578.00. Commercial, greater than 25,000 sq ft: Level 1 $303.00, Level 2 $328.00, Level 3 $1,128.00, Level 4 $1,203.00. Non-commercial, less than 25,000 sq ft: Level 1 $114.00, Level 2 $126.50, Level 3 $226.50, Level 4 $289.00. Non-commercial, greater than 25,000 sq ft: Level 1 $151.50, Level 2 $164.00, Level 3 $564.00, Level 4 $601.50. Vending, per location, $17.65. A late fee of 25% of the local fee applies when the application and payment are not postmarked by March 1., annual license; the fees page sets a March 1 postmark deadline for application and payment. Also required for restaurants and coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the restaurants 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.