17 permits · verified 2026-09-09
What permits do you need to open a restaurant in Portland?
In short
A restaurant in Portland, OR has 7 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 10 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. Portland Permitting & Development charges $701 flat — Change of Occupancy or Use Review Fee, charged when a space's occupancy classification or use changes without a concurrent new building permit for the change of occupancy / certificate of occupancy review. 8 of the 17 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-09-09 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.
Permits particular to a restaurant in Portland
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurant / Food Service Establishment License | Multnomah County Health Department, Environmental Health Services | Multnomah County Environmental Health Services 2026 base fee, by seating capacity: 0-15 seats $970; 16-50 seats $1,150; 51-150 seats $1,290; over 150 seats $1,545. A Bed & Breakfast restaurant is $420; a Limited Service (prepackaged items only) establishment is $890. New-construction plan review is billed separately at $1,265 standard or $3,780 rush; a remodel plan review is $1,185 standard or $3,565 rush. A recheck after a failed inspection is $270; general consultation is $265/hour. Fees rise again on January 1, 2027 (0-15 seats to $1,035, 16-50 to $1,225, 51-150 to $1,375, over 150 to $1,650). | annual | 2026-09-09 |
| Sign & Awning Permit | Portland Permitting & Development | Non-illuminated fascia/freestanding/projecting sign: $275 up to 20 sq ft, rising in bands to $647 over 180 sq ft. Illuminated (electric) sign: $357 up to 20 sq ft, rising in bands to $812 over 180 sq ft. Wall painted or adhered sign (vinyl, paper, or similar): $1.79/sq ft, $59 minimum. Awning without a sign: $14.49 per linear foot; a sign-and-awning combination is $2.45/sq ft of sign area. A structural plan review fee (65% of the permit fee, $228 minimum) is added for any projecting sign, any freestanding sign over 6 feet, a pitched-roof sign, a fascia sign over 400 lbs, or an awning. A Portable Sign (A-Board) Registration is priced separately: $120 for 1 year, $214 for 2 years, or $383 for 4 years. | one-time per permanent sign permit; A-Board portable-sign registration runs 1, 2 or 4 years | 2026-09-09 |
| 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 | 2026-09-03 |
| Food Handler Card | Oregon Health Authority, Foodborne Illness Prevention Program | $10 for three years; $5 to replace a lost card | 3 years | 2026-09-03 |
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 Portland
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zoning Confirmation Letteronly if it applies to you | Portland Permitting & Development | Varies — formula on the Portland page | one-time, per request | 2026-09-09 |
| Fire Alarm / Suppression System Permitonly if it applies to you | Portland Fire & Rescue, Fire Marshal's Office | Varies — formula on the Portland page | one-time, per system installed | 2026-09-09 |
| Portland Business License Tax & Multnomah County Business Income Tax | City of Portland Revenue Division | Varies — formula on the Portland page | annual — calendar-year filers file by April 15 (the 15th day of the 4th month after the tax year ends), matching the federal/Oregon income tax deadline; registration is due within 60 days of starting business activity in Portland or Multnomah County | 2026-09-09 |
| Commercial Building Permit | Portland Permitting & Development | Varies — formula on the Portland page | one-time, per project | 2026-09-09 |
| Change of Occupancy / Certificate of Occupancy Reviewonly if it applies to you | Portland Permitting & Development | $701 flat — Change of Occupancy or Use Review Fee, charged when a space's occupancy classification or use changes without a concurrent new building permit | one-time, per issuance | 2026-09-09 |
| Fire Safety Inspection Program — Existing Commercial Occupancy | Portland Fire & Rescue, Fire Marshal's Office | Varies — formula on the Portland page | recurring — every two years for most commercial occupancies; annually for a state-licensed institution such as a child care centre | 2026-09-09 |
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
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Identification Number (payroll)only if it applies to you | Oregon Department of Revenue | No fee | one-time registration, with quarterly reporting after that | 2026-09-03 |
| Articles of Organization (LLC)only if it applies to you | Oregon Secretary of State, Corporation Division | $100 one-time filing | perpetual, but an annual report is due every year | 2026-09-03 |
| Corporate Activity Tax Registrationonly if it applies to you | Oregon Department of Revenue | No fee | one-time registration, with annual returns after that | 2026-09-03 |
| Articles of Incorporationonly if it applies to you | Oregon Secretary of State, Corporation Division | $100 one-time filing | perpetual, but an annual report is due every year | 2026-09-03 |
| Annual Reportonly if it applies to you | Oregon Secretary of State, Corporation Division | $100 a year for a domestic entity; $275 for a foreign one | annual — due on the anniversary of the original filing date | 2026-09-03 |
| Seller's Permit — Oregon positiononly if it applies to you | Oregon Department of Revenue | No fee | not applicable | 2026-09-03 |
| General Business License — Oregon position (local, not state)only if it applies to you | Oregon Secretary of State, Corporation Division | No fee | set by the city or county | 2026-09-03 |
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 Portland?
There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 17 records listed for a restaurant in Portland, OR, 7 apply to every business of this type and 10 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 7 that always apply, 1 carry a flat fee, coming to $10.00. That is a floor, not a total. 8 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:
Restaurant / Food Service Establishment License: Multnomah County Environmental Health Services 2026 base fee, by seating capacity: 0-15 seats $970; 16-50 seats $1,150; 51-150 seats $1,290; over 150 seats $1,545. A Bed & Breakfast restaurant is $420; a Limited Service (prepackaged items only) establishment is $890. New-construction plan review is billed separately at $1,265 standard or $3,780 rush; a remodel plan review is $1,185 standard or $3,565 rush. A recheck after a failed inspection is $270; general consultation is $265/hour. Fees rise again on January 1, 2027 (0-15 seats to $1,035, 16-50 to $1,225, 51-150 to $1,375, over 150 to $1,650).
Sign & Awning Permit: Non-illuminated fascia/freestanding/projecting sign: $275 up to 20 sq ft, rising in bands to $647 over 180 sq ft. Illuminated (electric) sign: $357 up to 20 sq ft, rising in bands to $812 over 180 sq ft. Wall painted or adhered sign (vinyl, paper, or similar): $1.79/sq ft, $59 minimum. Awning without a sign: $14.49 per linear foot; a sign-and-awning combination is $2.45/sq ft of sign area. A structural plan review fee (65% of the permit fee, $228 minimum) is added for any projecting sign, any freestanding sign over 6 feet, a pitched-roof sign, a fascia sign over 400 lbs, or an awning. A Portable Sign (A-Board) Registration is priced separately: $120 for 1 year, $214 for 2 years, or $383 for 4 years.
Food Service Facility License: $602–$1,545 a year, banded by seating in statewide brackets but priced by each county
The other 5 variable fees belong to permits that apply to every type of business here; their formulas are set out on the Portland permits page and the OR state page.
Which offices issue these permits in Portland?
Permits for a restaurant in Portland, OR come from 7 separate offices: Multnomah County Health Department, Environmental Health Services, Portland Permitting & Development, Portland Fire & Rescue, Fire Marshal's Office, City of Portland Revenue Division, 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.
- Multnomah County Health Department, Environmental Health ServicesIssues 1 permit on this page: Restaurant / Food Service Establishment License847 NE 19th Avenue, Suite 350, Portland, OR 97232 · (503) 988-3400multco.us/programs/health-inspections-and-licensing
- Portland Permitting & DevelopmentIssues 4 permits on this page: Zoning Confirmation Letter, Sign & Awning Permit, Commercial Building Permit, Change of Occupancy / Certificate of Occupancy Review1900 SW 4th Avenue, Portland, OR 97201 · (503) 823-7300www.portland.gov/ppd
- Portland Fire & Rescue, Fire Marshal's OfficeIssues 2 permits on this page: Fire Alarm / Suppression System Permit, Fire Safety Inspection Program — Existing Commercial Occupancy1300 SE Gideon Street, Portland, OR 97202 · (503) 823-3700www.portland.gov/fire
- City of Portland Revenue DivisionIssues 1 permit on this page: Portland Business License Tax & Multnomah County Business Income Tax111 SW Columbia Street, Suite 600, Portland, OR 97201 · (503) 823-5157www.portland.gov/revenue
- Oregon Department of RevenueIssues 3 permits on this page: Business Identification Number (payroll), Corporate Activity Tax Registration, Seller's Permit — Oregon position955 Center Street NE, Salem, OR 97301 · (503) 945-8005www.oregon.gov/dor/programs/businesses/Pages/corporate-activity-tax.aspx
- Oregon Health Authority, Foodborne Illness Prevention ProgramIssues 2 permits on this page: Food Service Facility License, Food Handler Card800 NE Oregon Street, Suite 640, Portland, OR 97232 · (971) 673-0440www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/HEALTHYENVIRONMENTS/FOODSAFETY
- Oregon Secretary of State, Corporation DivisionIssues 4 permits on this page: Articles of Organization (LLC), Articles of Incorporation, Annual Report, General Business License — Oregon position (local, not state)255 Capitol Street NE, Suite 151, Salem, OR 97310 · (503) 986-2200sos.oregon.gov/business
What does a restaurant need in Portland that other businesses do not?
Food Handler Card
Ten dollars for three years, and unlike most states this is a genuine legal duty on the worker rather than something an employer may choose to require: every food service worker must obtain one within thirty days of starting work. Two details matter for anyone hiring. A card issued by any Oregon county is valid across the whole state, so a worker moving between counties need not re-test. But a card from another state carries no reciprocity at all — an experienced food worker arriving from Washington or California must sit the Oregon test like anyone else. Testing runs through the county environmental health office or an approved provider, and a replacement card costs $5.
Shared with other businesses in Portland
- Restaurant / Food Service Establishment License — Multnomah County Health Department, Environmental Health Services, Multnomah County Environmental Health Services 2026 base fee, by seating capacity: 0-15 seats $970; 16-50 seats $1,150; 51-150 seats $1,290; over 150 seats $1,545. A Bed & Breakfast restaurant is $420; a Limited Service (prepackaged items only) establishment is $890. New-construction plan review is billed separately at $1,265 standard or $3,780 rush; a remodel plan review is $1,185 standard or $3,565 rush. A recheck after a failed inspection is $270; general consultation is $265/hour. Fees rise again on January 1, 2027 (0-15 seats to $1,035, 16-50 to $1,225, 51-150 to $1,375, over 150 to $1,650)., annual. Also required for coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
- Sign & Awning Permit — Portland Permitting & Development, Non-illuminated fascia/freestanding/projecting sign: $275 up to 20 sq ft, rising in bands to $647 over 180 sq ft. Illuminated (electric) sign: $357 up to 20 sq ft, rising in bands to $812 over 180 sq ft. Wall painted or adhered sign (vinyl, paper, or similar): $1.79/sq ft, $59 minimum. Awning without a sign: $14.49 per linear foot; a sign-and-awning combination is $2.45/sq ft of sign area. A structural plan review fee (65% of the permit fee, $228 minimum) is added for any projecting sign, any freestanding sign over 6 feet, a pitched-roof sign, a fascia sign over 400 lbs, or an awning. A Portable Sign (A-Board) Registration is priced separately: $120 for 1 year, $214 for 2 years, or $383 for 4 years., one-time per permanent sign permit; A-Board portable-sign registration runs 1, 2 or 4 years. 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 auto repair shops 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 coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the food trucks page.
The other 6 local permits in the tables apply to every type of business in Portland, OR; what each one involves is set out on the Portland 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 restaurant compare with other businesses in Portland?
A restaurant and a coffee shop in Portland, OR need exactly the same 4 permits beyond the ones every business needs.
| Business | Its own permits | Shared with a restaurant | Only a restaurant needs | Only it needs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee shops | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Fitness studios | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Food trucks | 6 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Retail stores | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Veterinary clinics | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Auto repair shops | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| Salons and barbers | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| Childcare centres | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| Contractors and trades | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
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, auto repair shops page and food trucks page. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the Portland permits page and the OR state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.
- Oregon Health Authority — food handler card, $10 for three years and required within thirty days of starting workOregon Health Authority · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
Related
Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.