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12 permits · verified 2026-08-24

What permits do you need to open a salon or barber in Fort Worth?

In short

A salon or barber in Fort Worth, TX has 5 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 7 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. City of Fort Worth Development Services charges $9.85 per trap or interceptor for the grease trap or interceptor permit. 5 of the 12 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-08-24 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.

Permits particular to a salon or barber in Fort Worth

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Grease Trap or Interceptor Permitonly if it applies to youCity of Fort Worth Development Services$9.85 per trap or interceptornot stated in the published fee schedule2026-08-24
Zoning Verification Letteronly if it applies to youCity of Fort Worth Development Services$56.25–$112.50 10-day or 3-day turnaroundone-time, per request2026-08-24
Barbering and Cosmetology Establishment LicenseTexas Department of Licensing and Regulation$78 per license periodtwo 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.

Local permits that apply to every type of business in Fort Worth

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Plan Review Depositonly if it applies to youCity of Fort Worth Development ServicesVaries — formula on the Fort Worth pageone-time, per application2026-08-24
Sign Permitonly if it applies to youCity of Fort Worth Development ServicesVaries — formula on the Fort Worth pagenot stated in the published fee schedule2026-08-24
Commercial Building PermitCity of Fort Worth Development ServicesVaries — formula on the Fort Worth pagenot stated in the published fee schedule2026-08-24
Change of Occupancy PermitCity of Fort Worth Development Services$90 per permitdoes not expire; a new certificate is required when the occupancy classification changes2026-08-24
Reinspection Feeonly if it applies to youCity of Fort Worth Development Services$63 per reinspectionper inspection2026-08-24
Fire InspectionFort Worth Fire DepartmentVaries — formula on the Fort Worth pagenot stated in the published fee schedule2026-08-24

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 salon or barber in Fort Worth?

There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 12 records listed for a salon or barber in Fort Worth, TX, 5 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 5 that always apply, 3 carry a flat fee, coming to $168.00. That is a floor, not a total. 5 of the 12 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:

Zoning Verification Letter: $56.25–$112.50 10-day or 3-day turnaround

The other 4 variable fees belong to permits that apply to every type of business here; their formulas are set out on the Fort Worth permits page and the TX state page.

Which offices issue these permits in Fort Worth?

Permits for a salon or barber in Fort Worth, TX come from 5 separate offices: City of Fort Worth Development Services, Fort Worth Fire Department, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, 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 salon or barber need in Fort Worth that other businesses do not?

1 of the 3 permits particular to a salon or barber here applies to no other business type we cover in Fort Worth: Barbering and Cosmetology Establishment License.

Barbering and Cosmetology Establishment License

Establishment licenses are valid for two years from the date of issue, so the $78 is a two-year cost rather than an annual one — worth halving before you compare it with a yearly permit elsewhere. The fee applies to standard and specialty establishments; a mini-establishment license is $70. It covers full-service, mobile and specialty establishments, and applies to licenses expiring on or after 1 September 2023. Individual practitioners are licensed separately from the establishment, so a salon needs both its own license and a license for each operator working in it.

Shared with other businesses in Fort Worth

  • Grease Trap or Interceptor Permit — City of Fort Worth Development Services, $9.85 per trap or interceptor, not stated in the published fee schedule. Also required for restaurants, coffee shops and auto repair shops; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
  • Zoning Verification Letter — City of Fort Worth Development Services, $56.25–$112.50 10-day or 3-day turnaround, one-time, per request. Also required for restaurants, retail stores, auto repair shops, fitness studios, childcare centres and veterinary clinics; what it involves is set out on the fitness studios page.

The other 6 local permits in the tables apply to every type of business in Fort Worth, TX; what each one involves is set out on the Fort Worth 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 salon or barber compare with other businesses in Fort Worth?

The closest match is a auto repair shop, which shares 2 of these permits. A salon or barber also needs Barbering and Cosmetology Establishment License. A auto repair shop needs Fire Operational Permit — Hazardous Materials and Zoning Change Application, which a salon or barber does not.

Permits particular to each business type in Fort Worth, TX, compared with a salon or barber
BusinessIts own permitsShared with a salon or barberOnly a salon or barber needsOnly it needs
Auto repair shops4212
Veterinary clinics2121
Childcare centres4123
Fitness studios8127
Restaurants212119
Coffee shops121211
Retail stores201219
Contractors and trades7037
Food trucks5035

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 and fitness studios page. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the Fort Worth permits page and the TX state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.

  1. Barbering and Cosmetology Fee Changes — TDLRTexas Department of Licensing and Regulation · 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.