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15 permits · verified 2026-10-12

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

In short

A coffee shop in Washington County Or, OR has 3 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 12 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. Washington County Sheriff's Office, Alarm Permit Unit charges $23 per alarm site per year (late application or renewal $18; reinstatement $30) for the alarm user permit (sheriff's office). 6 of the 15 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-10-12 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.

Permits particular to a coffee shop in Washington County Or

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Full Service and Limited Service Restaurant LicenseWashington County Department of Health and Human Services, Environmental Health Program$847–$1,642 per establishment per calendar year: full service restaurant 0-15 seats $1,112, 16-50 seats $1,245, 51-150 seats $1,377, over 150 seats $1,642; limited service restaurant $847 (FY 2026-27 schedule, in effect through 30 June 2027)calendar year; licenses expire on 31 December and cannot be transferred2026-10-12
Restaurant Plan Review (New Construction or Remodel)only if it applies to youWashington County Department of Health and Human Services, Environmental Health Program$728–$1,324 one-time per project: new 0-50 seats $1,059; new 51 or more seats $1,324; new limited service $794; major remodel $794; minor remodel $728 (FY 2026-27 schedule)one-time, per new restaurant or remodel project2026-10-12
Temporary Restaurant License (Event Food Booth)only if it applies to youWashington County Department of Health and Human Services, Environmental Health ProgramFor-profit single event, intermittent or seasonal license: first booth $322; first 2 booths $407; each additional booth $186. Operational review (intermittent and seasonal only) $70; re-inspection $182; $10 credit for applications received 5 or more business days ahead; $50 penalty per occurrence for operating without a license. Benevolent: single event first booth $86, first 2 booths $119, each additional booth $62; intermittent $106; seasonal $106; operational review $35; re-inspection $66.single event: valid for 30 days of continual operation at the same location; intermittent: up to 30 days; seasonal: up to 90 days2026-10-12
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 Washington County Or

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Commercial Building Permit and Development-Compliance Review (Unincorporated Washington County)only if it applies to youWashington County Department of Land Use & Transportation, Building ServicesVaries — formula on the Washington County Or pageper permit2026-10-12
Home Occupation Permit and Sign Permit (Unincorporated Washington County)only if it applies to youWashington County Department of Land Use & Transportation, Current Planning (Development Review)Varies — formula on the Washington County Or pagehome occupation: subject to annual renewal; sign permit: per permit2026-10-12
Alarm User Permit (Sheriff's Office)only if it applies to youWashington County Sheriff's Office, Alarm Permit Unit$23 per alarm site per year (late application or renewal $18; reinstatement $30)one year; renewed annually2026-10-12

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 Washington County Or?

There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 15 records listed for a coffee shop in Washington County Or, OR, 3 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 3 that always apply, 1 carry a flat fee, coming to $10.00. That is a floor, not a total. 6 of the 15 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:

Full Service and Limited Service Restaurant License: $847–$1,642 per establishment per calendar year: full service restaurant 0-15 seats $1,112, 16-50 seats $1,245, 51-150 seats $1,377, over 150 seats $1,642; limited service restaurant $847 (FY 2026-27 schedule, in effect through 30 June 2027)

Restaurant Plan Review (New Construction or Remodel): $728–$1,324 one-time per project: new 0-50 seats $1,059; new 51 or more seats $1,324; new limited service $794; major remodel $794; minor remodel $728 (FY 2026-27 schedule)

Temporary Restaurant License (Event Food Booth): For-profit single event, intermittent or seasonal license: first booth $322; first 2 booths $407; each additional booth $186. Operational review (intermittent and seasonal only) $70; re-inspection $182; $10 credit for applications received 5 or more business days ahead; $50 penalty per occurrence for operating without a license. Benevolent: single event first booth $86, first 2 booths $119, each additional booth $62; intermittent $106; seasonal $106; operational review $35; re-inspection $66.

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

The other 2 variable fees belong to permits that apply to every type of business here; their formulas are set out on the Washington County Or permits page and the OR state page.

Which offices issue these permits in Washington County Or?

Permits for a coffee shop in Washington County Or, OR come from 7 separate offices: Washington County Department of Land Use & Transportation, Building Services, Washington County Department of Health and Human Services, Environmental Health Program, Washington County Department of Land Use & Transportation, Current Planning (Development Review), Washington County Sheriff's Office, Alarm Permit Unit, 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 Washington County Or that other businesses do not?

Full Service and Limited Service Restaurant License

The county's Food Service Licensing page states that 'Food service businesses in Washington County must be licensed by Environmental Health' and that 'Annual licenses expire on December 31 of every calendar year and cannot be transferred from one person to another.' ORS 624.510(1) delegates the state's food-service licensing to the local public health authority for its whole jurisdiction, so this license applies in every city in the county as well as the unincorporated area. The fees are from the Restaurant and Food Service Facilities fee sheet (REV 7/2026, fees effective 1 July 2026 thru 30 June 2027) and match the FY 2026-27 Adopted Fee Schedule (Resolution and Order No. 26-57): full service restaurant 0-15 seats $1,112, 16-50 seats $1,245, 51-150 seats $1,377, over 150 seats $1,642; a limited service restaurant (only prepackaged sandwiches or a single dish or food product and non-perishable beverages) $847. A license obtained in October through December is prorated to 50% of the annual fee. An expired license costs the annual fee plus a $100 reinstatement fee; under ORS 624.490(2) the reinstatement fee increases by $100 on the 31st day after expiry and on that day in each following month. The county page describes two unannounced inspections a year. A quarterly inspection fee is 50% of the annual license fee.

Shared with other businesses in Washington County Or

  • Restaurant Plan Review (New Construction or Remodel) — Washington County Department of Health and Human Services, Environmental Health Program, $728–$1,324 one-time per project: new 0-50 seats $1,059; new 51 or more seats $1,324; new limited service $794; major remodel $794; minor remodel $728 (FY 2026-27 schedule), one-time, per new restaurant or remodel project. Also required for restaurants; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.
  • Temporary Restaurant License (Event Food Booth) — Washington County Department of Health and Human Services, Environmental Health Program, For-profit single event, intermittent or seasonal license: first booth $322; first 2 booths $407; each additional booth $186. Operational review (intermittent and seasonal only) $70; re-inspection $182; $10 credit for applications received 5 or more business days ahead; $50 penalty per occurrence for operating without a license. Benevolent: single event first booth $86, first 2 booths $119, each additional booth $62; intermittent $106; seasonal $106; operational review $35; re-inspection $66., single event: valid for 30 days of continual operation at the same location; intermittent: up to 30 days; seasonal: up to 90 days. Also required for restaurants 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 3 local permits in the tables apply to every type of business in Washington County Or, OR; what each one involves is set out on the Washington County Or 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 Washington County Or?

The closest match is a restaurant, which shares 5 of these permits. A restaurant needs Commissary and Warehouse License and OLCC Liquor License Application — County Recommendation (Unincorporated Washington County), which a coffee shop does not.

Permits particular to each business type in Washington County Or, OR, compared with a coffee shop
BusinessIts own permitsShared with a coffee shopOnly a coffee shop needsOnly it needs
Restaurants7502
Food trucks6323
Auto repair shops1051
Childcare centres2052
Contractors and trades1051
Fitness studios1051
Retail stores1051
Salons and barbers1051
Veterinary clinics1051

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

  1. Restaurant and Food Service Facilities fees, effective July 1, 2026 thru June 30, 2027 (REV 7/2026)Washington County Environmental Health Program · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-12
  2. Washington County Adopted Fee Schedule, Fiscal Year 2026-2027 (Resolution and Order No. 26-57, adopted 16 June 2026; effective 1 July 2026)Washington County, Oregon · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-12
  3. Washington County Environmental Health, Food Service Licensing pageWashington County Health and Human Services · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-12
  4. Washington County Environmental Health, Restaurants, Catering and B&Bs pageWashington County Health and Human Services · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-12
  5. Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 624 (ORS 624.490, 624.510, 624.650)Oregon State Legislature · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-12

Related

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