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17 permits · verified 2026-10-09

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

In short

A coffee shop in Multnomah County, OR has 5 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 12 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. Oregon Secretary of State, Corporation Division charges $100 one-time filing for the articles of organization (llc). 9 of the 17 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-10-09 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.

Permits particular to a coffee shop in Multnomah County

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Mobile Food Unit (Food Cart and Food Truck) LicenseMultnomah County Health Department, Environmental Health Services2026 license fee: Class I, II or III mobile unit $760; Class IV mobile unit $920. A license applied for between 1 October and 31 December 2026 is $380 (Class I-III) or $460 (Class IV). Plan review $790 ($2,380 rush). Out-of-county mobile unit inspection $25.calendar year; the license expires on 31 December (MCC 21.612)2026-10-09
Restaurant (Food Service) LicenseMultnomah County Health Department, Environmental Health Services2026 license fee by seating: 0-15 seats $970; 16-50 seats $1,150; 51-150 seats $1,290; over 150 seats $1,545; limited service (prepackaged items only) $890; bed and breakfast food service $420. A license applied for between 1 October and 31 December 2026 is $485 / $575 / $645 / $770, or $445 for limited service. Plan review: new construction $1,265 ($3,780 rush); remodel $1,185 ($3,565 rush). Recheck $270; consultation $265 per hour; late or reinstatement fee $100.calendar year; the license expires on 31 December (MCC 21.612)2026-10-09
Temporary Restaurant (Food Event) Licenseonly if it applies to youMultnomah County Health Department, Environmental Health Services2026 fee: single event license (1-30 days) $210; intermittent license (30 days) $210; seasonal license (90 days) $210. Late fee $100 when payment arrives less than 2 business days (by noon) before the event. Operational plan review for a seasonal or intermittent license $140. Benevolent organization administrative fee $50 per year.single event up to 30 days; intermittent 30 days; seasonal 90 days2026-10-09
Liquor License County Recommendation to OLCC (Unincorporated Multnomah County)only if it applies to youMultnomah County Sheriff's Office, Law Enforcement Support UnitCounty processing fee: original application $100; change in ownership, location or privilege $75; renewal $35. Checks payable to Multnomah County Sheriff.per application; processing may take 8-12 weeks according to the Sheriff's 2024 OLCC application instructions2026-10-09
Food Service Facility LicenseOregon Health Authority, Foodborne Illness Prevention Program$602–$1,545 a year, banded by seating in statewide brackets but priced by each countyone calendar year — renew by 1 January2026-09-03
Food Handler CardOregon Health Authority, Foodborne Illness Prevention Program$10 for three years; $5 to replace a lost card3 years2026-09-03

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 Multnomah County

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Multnomah County Business Income Tax (MCBIT) Registration and ReturnCity of Portland Revenue Division (administering Multnomah County taxes)Varies — formula on the Multnomah County pageannual; the return is due by the fifteenth day of the fourth month after the end of the tax year (MCC 12.510(A))2026-10-09
Preschool for All Personal Income Tax: Employer Withholdingonly if it applies to youCity of Portland Revenue Division (administering Multnomah County taxes)Varies — formula on the Multnomah County pageongoing, through payroll2026-10-09
Building Permit for Unincorporated Property (Issued by Portland, Gresham or Troutdale)only if it applies to youCity building permit offices serving unincorporated Multnomah County (Portland, Gresham, Troutdale)Varies — formula on the Multnomah County pageper permit, under the issuing city's rules2026-10-09
Zoning Plan Check and Sign Permit (Unincorporated Multnomah County)only if it applies to youMultnomah County Department of Community Services, Land Use PlanningVaries — formula on the Multnomah County pageper application2026-10-09

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

OR 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
Business Identification Number (payroll)only if it applies to youOregon Department of RevenueNo feeone-time registration, with quarterly reporting after that2026-09-03
Articles of Organization (LLC)only if it applies to youOregon Secretary of State, Corporation Division$100 one-time filingperpetual, but an annual report is due every year2026-09-03
Corporate Activity Tax Registrationonly if it applies to youOregon Department of RevenueNo feeone-time registration, with annual returns after that2026-09-03
Articles of Incorporationonly if it applies to youOregon Secretary of State, Corporation Division$100 one-time filingperpetual, but an annual report is due every year2026-09-03
Annual Reportonly if it applies to youOregon Secretary of State, Corporation Division$100 a year for a domestic entity; $275 for a foreign oneannual — due on the anniversary of the original filing date2026-09-03
Seller's Permit — Oregon positiononly if it applies to youOregon Department of RevenueNo feenot applicable2026-09-03
General Business License — Oregon position (local, not state)only if it applies to youOregon Secretary of State, Corporation DivisionNo feeset by the city or county2026-09-03

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 coffee shop in Multnomah County?

There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 17 records listed for a coffee shop in Multnomah County, OR, 5 apply to every business of this type and 12 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 5 that always apply, 1 carry a flat fee, coming to $10.00. That is a floor, not a total. 9 of the 17 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:

Mobile Food Unit (Food Cart and Food Truck) License: 2026 license fee: Class I, II or III mobile unit $760; Class IV mobile unit $920. A license applied for between 1 October and 31 December 2026 is $380 (Class I-III) or $460 (Class IV). Plan review $790 ($2,380 rush). Out-of-county mobile unit inspection $25.

Restaurant (Food Service) License: 2026 license fee by seating: 0-15 seats $970; 16-50 seats $1,150; 51-150 seats $1,290; over 150 seats $1,545; limited service (prepackaged items only) $890; bed and breakfast food service $420. A license applied for between 1 October and 31 December 2026 is $485 / $575 / $645 / $770, or $445 for limited service. Plan review: new construction $1,265 ($3,780 rush); remodel $1,185 ($3,565 rush). Recheck $270; consultation $265 per hour; late or reinstatement fee $100.

Temporary Restaurant (Food Event) License: 2026 fee: single event license (1-30 days) $210; intermittent license (30 days) $210; seasonal license (90 days) $210. Late fee $100 when payment arrives less than 2 business days (by noon) before the event. Operational plan review for a seasonal or intermittent license $140. Benevolent organization administrative fee $50 per year.

Liquor License County Recommendation to OLCC (Unincorporated Multnomah County): County processing fee: original application $100; change in ownership, location or privilege $75; renewal $35. Checks payable to Multnomah County Sheriff.

Food Service Facility License: $602–$1,545 a year, banded by seating in statewide brackets but priced by each county

The other 4 variable fees belong to permits that apply to every type of business here; their formulas are set out on the Multnomah County permits page and the OR state page.

Which offices issue these permits in Multnomah County?

Permits for a coffee shop in Multnomah County, OR come from 8 separate offices: City of Portland Revenue Division (administering Multnomah County taxes), Multnomah County Health Department, Environmental Health Services, City building permit offices serving unincorporated Multnomah County (Portland, Gresham, Troutdale), Multnomah County Sheriff's Office, Law Enforcement Support Unit, Multnomah County Department of Community Services, Land Use Planning, Oregon Department of Revenue, Oregon Health Authority, Foodborne Illness Prevention Program, Oregon Secretary of State, Corporation Division. No single office issues them all, which is why an opening means filing in several places rather than one.

What does a coffee shop need in Multnomah County that other businesses do not?

Restaurant (Food Service) License

Multnomah County Environmental Health Services licenses every restaurant and food establishment in the county, in Portland, Gresham, the other cities and the unincorporated area, under the state delegation in ORS 624.510 and Multnomah County Code Chapter 21. The county's Restaurant License page states that 'All restaurants and food establishments must be licensed and pass regular health inspections' and that a plan review and license are required before opening a new restaurant or remodelling one. The fee figures are the 2026 figures in the FY 2026 County Fee Schedule (Resolution 2025-043, adopted 12 June 2025) and the EHS 2026 Base Fee Schedule (EHS-0001, rev. 02/17/26); health licenses run on the calendar year and the 2026 schedule is in effect through 31 December 2026. Resolution 2026-039, adopted 4 June 2026, sets the fees from 1 January 2027: 0-15 seats $1,035, 16-50 seats $1,225, 51-150 seats $1,375, over 150 seats $1,650, limited service $950, bed and breakfast $450, and plan review $1,350 for new construction and $1,265 for a remodel. City zoning, building and business tax requirements apply in addition to this license.

Shared with other businesses in Multnomah County

  • Mobile Food Unit (Food Cart and Food Truck) License — Multnomah County Health Department, Environmental Health Services, 2026 license fee: Class I, II or III mobile unit $760; Class IV mobile unit $920. A license applied for between 1 October and 31 December 2026 is $380 (Class I-III) or $460 (Class IV). Plan review $790 ($2,380 rush). Out-of-county mobile unit inspection $25., calendar year; the license expires on 31 December (MCC 21.612). Also required for food trucks; what it involves is set out on the food trucks page.
  • Temporary Restaurant (Food Event) License — Multnomah County Health Department, Environmental Health Services, 2026 fee: single event license (1-30 days) $210; intermittent license (30 days) $210; seasonal license (90 days) $210. Late fee $100 when payment arrives less than 2 business days (by noon) before the event. Operational plan review for a seasonal or intermittent license $140. Benevolent organization administrative fee $50 per year., single event up to 30 days; intermittent 30 days; seasonal 90 days. Also required for restaurants, food trucks and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
  • Liquor License County Recommendation to OLCC (Unincorporated Multnomah County) — Multnomah County Sheriff's Office, Law Enforcement Support Unit, County processing fee: original application $100; change in ownership, location or privilege $75; renewal $35. Checks payable to Multnomah County Sheriff., per application; processing may take 8-12 weeks according to the Sheriff's 2024 OLCC application instructions. Also required for restaurants, retail stores and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.
  • Food Service Facility License — Oregon Health Authority, Foodborne Illness Prevention Program, $602–$1,545 a year, banded by seating in statewide brackets but priced by each county, one calendar year — renew by 1 January. Also required for restaurants and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the food trucks page.
  • Food Handler Card — Oregon Health Authority, Foodborne Illness Prevention Program, $10 for three years; $5 to replace a lost card, 3 years. Also required for restaurants and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.

The other 4 local permits in the tables apply to every type of business in Multnomah County, OR; what each one involves is set out on the Multnomah County permits page. The 7 state-level registrations apply to every type of business across OR and are covered on the OR state page.

How does a coffee shop compare with other businesses in Multnomah County?

The closest match is a restaurant, which shares 5 of these permits. A coffee shop also needs Mobile Food Unit (Food Cart and Food Truck) License. A restaurant needs Tobacco Retail License, which a coffee shop does not.

Permits particular to each business type in Multnomah County, OR, compared with a coffee shop
BusinessIts own permitsShared with a coffee shopOnly a coffee shop needsOnly it needs
Restaurants6511
Food trucks7512
Retail stores4242
Auto repair shops1061
Childcare centres2062
Contractors and trades1061
Fitness studios1061
Salons and barbers1061
Veterinary clinics1061

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 food trucks page, retail stores page and restaurants page. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the Multnomah County permits page and the OR state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.

  1. Multnomah County — 2026 environmental health licence fee schedule, restaurants banded by seatingMultnomah County · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
  2. Multnomah County FY 2026 Fee Schedule (Resolution 2025-043, adopted 12 June 2025)Multnomah County · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  3. Multnomah County FY 2027 Fee Schedule (adopted by Resolution 2026-039)Multnomah County · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  4. Multnomah County Resolution 2026-039, adopting the FY 2027 fee schedule (adopted 4 June 2026)Multnomah County Board of Commissioners · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  5. Multnomah County Code Chapter 21, HealthMultnomah County · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  6. Multnomah County, Restaurant License pageMultnomah County Health Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  7. Multnomah County, 2027 Fee Changes for Health LicensesMultnomah County Health Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09

Related

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