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

Restaurant Plan Review (New Construction or Remodel)

Washington County Environmental Health reviews plans for a new restaurant or a remodel before the restaurant license is issued. The plan review fees on the Restaurant and Food Service Facilities fee sheet (REV 7/2026, effective 1 July 2026 thru 30 June 2027), identical in the FY 2026-27 Adopted Fee Schedule (Resolution and Order No. 26-57), are: new restaurant with 0-50 seats $1,059; new restaurant with 51 or more seats $1,324; new limited service restaurant $794; major remodel $794; minor remodel $728. The fee sheet defines a minor remodel as installing up to 3 pieces of food service equipment where a utility connection must be changed or added, adding seating that requires additional restrooms, or adding one self-service area. The plan review applies countywide, in cities and the unincorporated area alike, because the license it leads to is the county's countywide food-service license.

Commissary and Warehouse License

A commissary that services mobile food units, and a warehouse that stores food for a food business, are licensed by the Washington County Environmental Health Program. The Mobile Food Unit, Commissary and Warehouse fee sheet (REV 7/2026, effective 1 July 2026 thru 30 June 2027) and the FY 2026-27 Adopted Fee Schedule (Resolution and Order No. 26-57) set the annual license at $1,112 for a commissary, $980 for a commissary located in a licensed restaurant, and $847 for a warehouse. A license obtained in October through December is prorated to 50% of the annual fee, and an expired license costs the annual fee plus a $100 reinstatement fee. The license applies countywide under ORS 624.510(1).

Temporary Restaurant License (Event Food Booth)

Food booths at fairs, festivals and other public events in Washington County are licensed by the county Environmental Health Program. The Temporary Food Service fee sheet (REV 6/2026, effective 1 July 2026 thru 30 June 2027), matching the FY 2026-27 Adopted Fee Schedule (Resolution and Order No. 26-57), sets three for-profit license types at the same prices (first booth $322, first 2 booths $407, each additional booth $186): a single event license, valid for 30 days of continual operation at the same location; an intermittent license, for multiple events arranged by at least two different oversight organizations with the same menu and location, valid up to 30 days; and a seasonal license, for multiple events arranged by the same oversight organization, valid up to 90 days. Intermittent and seasonal operators also pay a $70 operational review before the first license or when the menu or location changes. Re-inspection is $182; applications received 5 or more business days ahead get a $10 credit; operating without a license carries a $50 penalty per occurrence on top of the license fee. Benevolent (non-profit) operators pay $86 / $119 / $62 for a single event, $106 for an intermittent or seasonal license, $35 for operational review and $66 for re-inspection.

OLCC Liquor License Application — County Recommendation (Unincorporated Washington County)

Under ORS 471.166 the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission asks the local government for a recommendation on liquor license applications. The county's Liquor Licenses page states that 'Washington County only reviews applications for businesses and operations located in unincorporated Washington County' and tells applicants whose location shows a different jurisdiction to contact that county or city. The county review has a land use stage (Current Planning) and a health stage (Environmental Health), and the page states that 'As per statute, Washington County will complete its review within 45 days of receiving all application materials.' The county fees on that page are $100 for a new annual licensing application, $35 for an annual licensing renewal, $75 for a change in ownership and $35 for special events or temporary licensing; the FY 2026-27 Adopted Fee Schedule (Resolution and Order No. 26-57) lists $100 new, $35 renewal and $75 for a change in ownership, location or privilege, and the Current Planning FY 2026-27 schedule lists 'OLCC Review (License Renewal & Special Events) 35'. ORS 471.166(8) caps these fees at $100, $75 and $35. The OLCC license and its state fee are separate. Coffee shops and food trucks that sell alcohol in unincorporated areas go through the same review.

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 Washington County Or

• Full Service and Limited Service Restaurant License — Washington 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 transferred. Also required for coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the coffee 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.