9 permits · verified 2026-10-09
What permits do you need to open a coffee shop in El Paso County Tx?
In short
A coffee shop in El Paso County Tx, TX has 2 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 7 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. El Paso County Sheriff's Office, Alarm Permit Officer charges $60 per commercial alarm permit, initial and each renewal, valid three years for the commercial security alarm permit (sheriff). 5 of the 9 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 El Paso County Tx
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| County Food Establishment Permit (Food Safety Order, unincorporated area) | El Paso County Food Safety Order, enforced by the City of El Paso Department of Public Health food inspection program | No current county food permit fee schedule is published; the County Food Safety Order's 2007 figures are not presented as current. The County states the amount payable. | annual; renew at least 30 days before expiry; a temporary event permit lasts at most 14 consecutive days | 2026-09-29 |
| County Local Fee on TABC Alcohol Permitsonly if it applies to you | El Paso County Tax Assessor-Collector (Ascarate Tax Office) | Statutory basis: Alcoholic Beverage Code sections 11.38 and 61.36 allow the county to charge a local fee on each TABC permit for premises in the county, capped at one-half of the state fee. The amount depends on the permit type held; the Tax Assessor-Collector publishes its fee table on its Alcoholic Beverage Tax License page. | tied to the underlying TABC permit term | 2026-09-29 |
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 El Paso County Tx
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Driveway (Right-of-Way Access) Permit, County Roadsonly if it applies to you | El Paso County Planning & Development Department | Varies — formula on the El Paso County Tx page | one permit per access point; not stated as a renewable license | 2026-10-09 |
| Floodplain Determination and Floodplain Development Permitonly if it applies to you | El Paso County Planning & Development Department | Varies — formula on the El Paso County Tx page | construction must start within 180 days of issue or the permit is void; up to two six-month extensions on written request | 2026-10-09 |
| Commercial Security Alarm Permit (Sheriff)only if it applies to you | El Paso County Sheriff's Office, Alarm Permit Officer | $60 per commercial alarm permit, initial and each renewal, valid three years | 3 years | 2026-09-29 |
| On-Site Sewage Facility (Septic) Permitonly if it applies to you | El Paso County Public Works, On-Site Sewage Facility Program | Varies — formula on the El Paso County Tx page | authorization to construct valid for one calendar year; a license to operate is issued after final inspection and transfers to a new owner on sale | 2026-09-29 |
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
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Formationonly if it applies to you | Texas Secretary of State | $300 one-time filing | no expiry | 2026-08-20 |
| Assumed Name Certificate (DBA)only if it applies to you | Texas Secretary of State | $25 one-time filing | up to ten years, renewable | 2026-08-21 |
| Texas Sales and Use Tax Permit | Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts | No fee — there is no fee for this permit | no expiry while actively engaged in business | 2026-08-21 |
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 coffee shop in El Paso County Tx?
There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 9 records listed for a coffee shop in El Paso County Tx, TX, 2 apply to every business of this type and 7 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 9 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:
County Food Establishment Permit (Food Safety Order, unincorporated area): No current county food permit fee schedule is published; the County Food Safety Order's 2007 figures are not presented as current. The County states the amount payable.
County Local Fee on TABC Alcohol Permits: Statutory basis: Alcoholic Beverage Code sections 11.38 and 61.36 allow the county to charge a local fee on each TABC permit for premises in the county, capped at one-half of the state fee. The amount depends on the permit type held; the Tax Assessor-Collector publishes its fee table on its Alcoholic Beverage Tax License page.
The other 3 variable fees belong to permits that apply to every type of business here; their formulas are set out on the El Paso County Tx permits page and the TX state page.
Which offices issue these permits in El Paso County Tx?
Permits for a coffee shop in El Paso County Tx, TX come from 7 separate offices: El Paso County Planning & Development Department, El Paso County Food Safety Order, enforced by the City of El Paso Department of Public Health food inspection program, El Paso County Tax Assessor-Collector (Ascarate Tax Office), El Paso County Sheriff's Office, Alarm Permit Officer, El Paso County Public Works, On-Site Sewage Facility Program, 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.
- El Paso County Planning & Development DepartmentIssues 2 permits on this page: Driveway (Right-of-Way Access) Permit, County Roads, Floodplain Determination and Floodplain Development Permit800 E Overland, Suite 200, El Paso, TX 79901 · (915) 273-3330www.epcounty.com/233/Planning-Development
- El Paso County Food Safety Order, enforced by the City of El Paso Department of Public Health food inspection programIssues 1 permit on this page: County Food Establishment Permit (Food Safety Order, unincorporated area)www.elpasotexas.gov/public-health/services/food-inspection
- El Paso County Tax Assessor-Collector (Ascarate Tax Office)Issues 1 permit on this page: County Local Fee on TABC Alcohol Permits301 Manny Martinez, El Paso, TX 79905 · (915) 771-2325www.epcounty.com/1076/Alcoholic-Beverage-Tax-License
- El Paso County Sheriff's Office, Alarm Permit OfficerIssues 1 permit on this page: Commercial Security Alarm Permit (Sheriff)3850 Justice Dr, El Paso, TX 79938 · (915) 538-2292www.epcounty.com/DocumentCenter/View/483/Order-Regulating-Alarm-Systems-PDF
- El Paso County Public Works, On-Site Sewage Facility ProgramIssues 1 permit on this page: On-Site Sewage Facility (Septic) Permit14698 Van Ln, El Paso, TX 79938 · (915) 273-3105www.epcounty.com/236/Public-Works
- Texas Secretary of StateIssues 2 permits on this page: Certificate of Formation, Assumed Name Certificate (DBA)www.sos.state.tx.us
- Texas Comptroller of Public AccountsIssues 1 permit on this page: Texas Sales and Use Tax Permitcomptroller.texas.gov/taxes/permit
What does a coffee shop need in El Paso County Tx that other businesses do not?
Shared with other businesses in El Paso County Tx
- County Food Establishment Permit (Food Safety Order, unincorporated area) — El Paso County Food Safety Order, enforced by the City of El Paso Department of Public Health food inspection program, No current county food permit fee schedule is published; the County Food Safety Order's 2007 figures are not presented as current. The County states the amount payable., annual; renew at least 30 days before expiry; a temporary event permit lasts at most 14 consecutive days. Also required for restaurants and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.
- County Local Fee on TABC Alcohol Permits — El Paso County Tax Assessor-Collector (Ascarate Tax Office), Statutory basis: Alcoholic Beverage Code sections 11.38 and 61.36 allow the county to charge a local fee on each TABC permit for premises in the county, capped at one-half of the state fee. The amount depends on the permit type held; the Tax Assessor-Collector publishes its fee table on its Alcoholic Beverage Tax License page., tied to the underlying TABC permit term. Also required for restaurants and retail stores; 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 El Paso County Tx, TX; what each one involves is set out on the El Paso County Tx permits 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 coffee shop compare with other businesses in El Paso County Tx?
A coffee shop and a retail store in El Paso County Tx, TX need exactly the same 2 permits beyond the ones every business needs.
| Business | Its own permits | Shared with a coffee shop | Only a coffee shop needs | Only it needs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail stores | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Restaurants | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Auto repair shops | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Childcare centres | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Contractors and trades | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Fitness studios | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Food trucks | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Salons and barbers | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Veterinary clinics | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
Sources
Sources for the permits shared with other businesses are listed with their explanations on the restaurants page. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the El Paso County Tx permits page and the TX state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.
Related
Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.