9 permits · verified 2026-10-26
What permits do you need to open a restaurant in Jefferson County Tx?
In short
A restaurant in Jefferson 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. Jefferson County Tax Assessor-Collector charges $15 per machine per calendar year, county occupation tax only; prorated by purchase date to $11.25 (April 1 thru June 30), $7.50 (July 1 thru September 30) and $3.75 (October 1 thru December 31); a machine locked for non-compliance needs the $15.00 permit plus a $5.00 unlock fee for the occupation tax permit for coin-operated machines (jefferson county). 5 of the 9 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-10-26 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.
Permits particular to a restaurant in Jefferson County Tx
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County Alcoholic Beverage Permit Tax (county fee on TABC permits and licenses)only if it applies to you | Jefferson County Tax Assessor-Collector | No amount is published on the Tax Office's Business Related page; the page states that the fees "will vary depending on the type of license or permit". Alcoholic Beverage Code §§11.38(a) and 61.36(a) cap a county fee at one-half of the state fee as of August 31, 2021. The Tax Office mails a statement for the amount due. | Follows the TABC permit or license; billed when TABC issues or renews it | 2026-10-26 |
| Food Establishment Permit (Jefferson County Environmental Control) | Jefferson County Environmental Control | No amount is published on the county's Food Permits page or on the Food Permit Application. Contact Jefferson County Environmental Control at (409) 719-5910 for the current amount before applying. The application states that all permit fees are non-refundable. | "Permit is good for one year from date of issue" (Food Permit Application); renewed annually (Order §4) | 2026-10-26 |
| Occupation Tax Permit for Coin-Operated Machines (Jefferson County)only if it applies to you | Jefferson County Tax Assessor-Collector | $15 per machine per calendar year, county occupation tax only; prorated by purchase date to $11.25 (April 1 thru June 30), $7.50 (July 1 thru September 30) and $3.75 (October 1 thru December 31); a machine locked for non-compliance needs the $15.00 permit plus a $5.00 unlock fee | Calendar year; "Permits expire Dec. 31 of each calendar year" | 2026-10-26 |
| Mixed Beverage Permit (MB)only if it applies to you | Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission | $2,650–$5,300 per two-year period; $5,300 original, $2,650 renewal | every 2 years | 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.
Local permits that apply to every type of business in Jefferson County Tx
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| On-Site Sewage Facility (Septic) Permit (Jefferson County)only if it applies to you | Jefferson County Environmental Control | Varies — formula on the Jefferson County Tx page | "Permit is good for one year from date of issue" (Septic System Permit Application) | 2026-10-26 |
| Development Permit (unincorporated Jefferson County)only if it applies to you | Jefferson County Environmental Control | Varies — formula on the Jefferson County Tx page | The Development Permits page states "Permits are active for one year from their purchase date"; the application states "The permit will expire if no work is commenced within 1 year of the date of issue" | 2026-10-26 |
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 restaurant in Jefferson 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 restaurant in Jefferson 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:
Jefferson County Alcoholic Beverage Permit Tax (county fee on TABC permits and licenses): No amount is published on the Tax Office's Business Related page; the page states that the fees "will vary depending on the type of license or permit". Alcoholic Beverage Code §§11.38(a) and 61.36(a) cap a county fee at one-half of the state fee as of August 31, 2021. The Tax Office mails a statement for the amount due.
Food Establishment Permit (Jefferson County Environmental Control): No amount is published on the county's Food Permits page or on the Food Permit Application. Contact Jefferson County Environmental Control at (409) 719-5910 for the current amount before applying. The application states that all permit fees are non-refundable.
Mixed Beverage Permit (MB): $2,650–$5,300 per two-year period; $5,300 original, $2,650 renewal
The other 2 variable fees belong to permits that apply to every type of business here; their formulas are set out on the Jefferson County Tx permits page and the TX state page.
Which offices issue these permits in Jefferson County Tx?
Permits for a restaurant in Jefferson County Tx, TX come from 5 separate offices: Jefferson County Tax Assessor-Collector, Jefferson County Environmental Control, 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.
- Jefferson County Tax Assessor-CollectorIssues 2 permits on this page: Jefferson County Alcoholic Beverage Permit Tax (county fee on TABC permits and licenses), Occupation Tax Permit for Coin-Operated Machines (Jefferson County)Jefferson County Courthouse, 1149 Pearl Street, Beaumont, TX 77701 (mail: P.O. Box 2112, Beaumont, TX 77704-2112) · (409) 835-8516jeffcotax.com/business-related
- Jefferson County Environmental ControlIssues 3 permits on this page: Food Establishment Permit (Jefferson County Environmental Control), On-Site Sewage Facility (Septic) Permit (Jefferson County), Development Permit (unincorporated Jefferson County)7933 Viterbo Road, Ste 4, Beaumont, TX 77705 · (409) 719-5910jeffersoncountytx.gov/env_cntrl/ev_main.htm
- Texas Alcoholic Beverage CommissionIssues 1 permit on this page: Mixed Beverage Permit (MB)www.tabc.texas.gov
- 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 restaurant need in Jefferson County Tx that other businesses do not?
1 of the 4 permits particular to a restaurant here applies to no other business type we cover in Jefferson County Tx: Mixed Beverage Permit (MB).
Jefferson County Alcoholic Beverage Permit Tax (county fee on TABC permits and licenses)
A business in Jefferson County that holds a Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission permit or license pays a county fee to the Tax Assessor-Collector in addition to the state fee. The Tax Office's Business Related page states: "The Jefferson County Tax Office collects fees for alcohol and beverage license and permits. The fees for these are set by the State of Texas and will vary depending on the type of license or permit. ... TABC will notify the Jefferson County Tax office of newly issued license or permits and of renewals. Our office will then mail a statement for the Jefferson County Alcoholic Beverage Permit Tax." Alcoholic Beverage Code §11.38(a) allows a commissioners court to levy and collect a fee for each permit issued for premises in the county, and §61.36(a) does the same for licenses; each caps the fee at one-half of the statutory state fee as of August 31, 2021. Under §11.38(b), a permit can be canceled or suspended if the fee is not paid within 180 days after it was levied. No amount is published on the Tax Office page; contact the Jefferson County Tax Office, 1149 Pearl Street, Beaumont, (409) 835-8516, for the amount that applies to a specific permit.
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 Jefferson County Tx
- Food Establishment Permit (Jefferson County Environmental Control) — Jefferson County Environmental Control, No amount is published on the county's Food Permits page or on the Food Permit Application. Contact Jefferson County Environmental Control at (409) 719-5910 for the current amount before applying. The application states that all permit fees are non-refundable., "Permit is good for one year from date of issue" (Food Permit Application); renewed annually (Order §4). Also required for coffee shops, retail stores and childcare centres; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
- Occupation Tax Permit for Coin-Operated Machines (Jefferson County) — Jefferson County Tax Assessor-Collector, $15 per machine per calendar year, county occupation tax only; prorated by purchase date to $11.25 (April 1 thru June 30), $7.50 (July 1 thru September 30) and $3.75 (October 1 thru December 31); a machine locked for non-compliance needs the $15.00 permit plus a $5.00 unlock fee, Calendar year; "Permits expire Dec. 31 of each calendar year". Also required for retail stores and coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
The other 2 local permits in the tables apply to every type of business in Jefferson County Tx, TX; what each one involves is set out on the Jefferson 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 restaurant compare with other businesses in Jefferson County Tx?
The closest match is a coffee shop, which shares 3 of these permits. A restaurant also needs Mixed Beverage Permit (MB). A coffee shop needs nothing here that a restaurant does not.
| Business | Its own permits | Shared with a restaurant | Only a restaurant needs | Only it needs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee shops | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Retail stores | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Childcare centres | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Auto repair shops | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Contractors and trades | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| Fitness studios | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| Salons and barbers | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| Veterinary clinics | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
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. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the Jefferson County Tx permits page and the TX state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.
- Business Related - Jefferson County Tax OfficeJefferson County, Texas, Tax Assessor-Collector · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-26
- Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code Chapter 11 (§11.38, local fee on state liquor permits, capped at one-half the fee schedule in effect August 31, 2021)Texas Legislature · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-28
- Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code Chapter 61 (section 61.36, county fees)Texas Legislature · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-29
- 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.