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8 permits · verified 2026-10-31

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

In short

A restaurant in Ector County, TX has 2 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 6 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. Texas Secretary of State charges $300 one-time filing for the certificate of formation. 5 of the 8 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-10-31 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.

Permits particular to a restaurant in Ector County

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Temporary Event Food Permit (Ector County Health Department, unincorporated county)only if it applies to youEctor County Health Department (Environmental Section)$52–$200 Single Temporary Event Permit $52.00; Temporary Permit $200 per yearsingle event, or per year for the Temporary Permit2026-10-31
Food Establishment Health Permit (Ector County Health Department, unincorporated county)Ector County Health Department (Environmental Section)$258–$773 per year: $773.00, or on proof of gross annual sales $258 ($0-49,999.99), $515 ($50,000-149,999.99), $773 ($150,000 and more); plan review $150.00; each additional inspection $150.00per year2026-10-31
On-Site Sewage Facility (Septic) Permit (Ector County Health Department)only if it applies to youEctor County Health Department (Environmental Section)The septic permit fee is not published on the Environmental Section page or in the October 6, 2025 fee notice; contact the Ector County Health Department, 432-498-4141, extension 2161, for the current amount.per system2026-10-31
County Clerk Wet/Dry Certification for TABC Applications (Ector County)only if it applies to youEctor County ClerkThe certification charge is not published in the sources cited here; contact the Ector County Clerk for the current amount.per certification request; the clerk certifies within 30 days of the request (Alcoholic Beverage Code section 11.37(a))2026-10-31
Mixed Beverage Permit (MB)only if it applies to youTexas Alcoholic Beverage Commission$2,650–$5,300 per two-year period; $5,300 original, $2,650 renewalevery 2 years2026-08-21

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

TX 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
Certificate of Formationonly if it applies to youTexas Secretary of State$300 one-time filingno expiry2026-08-20
Assumed Name Certificate (DBA)only if it applies to youTexas Secretary of State$25 one-time filingup to ten years, renewable2026-08-21
Texas Sales and Use Tax PermitTexas Comptroller of Public AccountsNo fee — there is no fee for this permitno expiry while actively engaged in business2026-08-21

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 Ector County?

There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 8 records listed for a restaurant in Ector County, TX, 2 apply to every business of this type and 6 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 2 that always apply, 1 carry a flat fee, coming to $0.00. That is a floor, not a total. 5 of the 8 are charged as a range or a formula set by the issuing agency, and 0 have no fee published at all. The ones particular to this business that vary:

Temporary Event Food Permit (Ector County Health Department, unincorporated county): $52–$200 Single Temporary Event Permit $52.00; Temporary Permit $200 per year

Food Establishment Health Permit (Ector County Health Department, unincorporated county): $258–$773 per year: $773.00, or on proof of gross annual sales $258 ($0-49,999.99), $515 ($50,000-149,999.99), $773 ($150,000 and more); plan review $150.00; each additional inspection $150.00

On-Site Sewage Facility (Septic) Permit (Ector County Health Department): The septic permit fee is not published on the Environmental Section page or in the October 6, 2025 fee notice; contact the Ector County Health Department, 432-498-4141, extension 2161, for the current amount.

County Clerk Wet/Dry Certification for TABC Applications (Ector County): The certification charge is not published in the sources cited here; contact the Ector County Clerk for the current amount.

Mixed Beverage Permit (MB): $2,650–$5,300 per two-year period; $5,300 original, $2,650 renewal

Which offices issue these permits in Ector County?

Permits for a restaurant in Ector County, TX come from 5 separate offices: Ector County Health Department (Environmental Section), Ector County Clerk, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, Texas Secretary of State, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. No single office issues them all, which is why an opening means filing in several places rather than one.

What does a restaurant need in Ector County that other businesses do not?

1 of the 5 permits particular to a restaurant here applies to no other business type we cover in Ector County: Mixed Beverage Permit (MB).

Temporary Event Food Permit (Ector County Health Department, unincorporated county)

A business selling food at a festival, fair or other public event in unincorporated Ector County needs a temporary food permit from the Ector County Health Department. per the Ector County Health Department's fee notice dated October 6, 2025 ("these are the new fees implemented for Ector County"), filed in the Texas DSHS local fee schedule registry, an Application for Single Temporary Event Permit is $52.00 and an Application for Temporary Permit, covering events through the year, is $200 per year. The amounts are published here for locations in unincorporated Ector County. The county's Food Service Sanitation Program page lists the "Application for Single Event permit" and "Application for Temporary permit" forms. Contact the Ector County Health Department Environmental Section, 221 N. Texas Ave, Odessa, 432-498-4141, extension 2161.

Mixed Beverage Permit (MB)

Read directly from the TABC two-year licensing fee schedule: Mixed Beverage Permit (MB) $5,300 original, $2,650 renewal, charged on a two-year cycle. A Wine and Malt Beverage Retailer's Permit (BG) is $1,900 if you do not need spirits. Note a widely-cited competitor lists $6,006 for this permit, which does not appear in the TABC schedule.

Shared with other businesses in Ector County

  • Food Establishment Health Permit (Ector County Health Department, unincorporated county) — Ector County Health Department (Environmental Section), $258–$773 per year: $773.00, or on proof of gross annual sales $258 ($0-49,999.99), $515 ($50,000-149,999.99), $773 ($150,000 and more); plan review $150.00; each additional inspection $150.00, per year. Also required for coffee shops and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
  • On-Site Sewage Facility (Septic) Permit (Ector County Health Department) — Ector County Health Department (Environmental Section), The septic permit fee is not published on the Environmental Section page or in the October 6, 2025 fee notice; contact the Ector County Health Department, 432-498-4141, extension 2161, for the current amount., per system. Also required for retail stores, auto repair shops, veterinary clinics and contractors and trades; what it involves is set out on the auto repair shops page.
  • County Clerk Wet/Dry Certification for TABC Applications (Ector County) — Ector County Clerk, The certification charge is not published in the sources cited here; contact the Ector County Clerk for the current amount., per certification request; the clerk certifies within 30 days of the request (Alcoholic Beverage Code section 11.37(a)). Also required for coffee shops and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.

The 3 state-level registrations apply to every type of business across TX and are covered on the TX state page.

How does a restaurant compare with other businesses in Ector County?

The closest match is a retail store, which shares 4 of these permits. A restaurant also needs Mixed Beverage Permit (MB). A retail store needs Farmers Market Only Permit (Ector County Health Department, unincorporated county), which a restaurant does not.

Permits particular to each business type in Ector County, TX, compared with a restaurant
BusinessIts own permitsShared with a restaurantOnly a restaurant needsOnly it needs
Retail stores5411
Coffee shops3320
Auto repair shops1140
Contractors and trades2141
Veterinary clinics2141
Childcare centres3053
Fitness studios2052

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 retail stores page and auto repair shops page. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the Ector County permits page and the TX state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.

  1. Ector County Health Department 2025-2026 Fee Schedule, dated 6 October 2025 (filed with Texas DSHS)Ector County Health Department, filed with Texas Department of State Health Services · primary source · retrieved 2026-08-24
  2. Local Ordinance and Fee Schedule Registry & Model Orders and OrdinancesTexas Department of State Health Services · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-31
  3. Food Service Sanitation ProgramEctor County, Texas · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-31
  4. Two-Year Licensing Fees — TABCTexas Alcoholic Beverage Commission · primary source · retrieved 2026-08-22

Related

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