What permits do you need to open a restaurant in San Antonio?

Food Establishment Re-inspection Fee

$150 for any food establishment or food vendor requiring inspection beyond the normal schedule. Half what Fort Worth charges for the same thing.

Non-Conforming Use Registration

$350 to register a new non-conforming use including the letter, then $150 every year to renew it. This is the recurring obligation that catches long-established businesses whose zoning changed around them — the registration is not one-and-done, and letting it lapse puts the protected status at risk. Eligible for the city Fee Waiver Programme.

Mixed Beverage Permit — City Fee

San Antonio charges NOTHING for a mixed beverage permit for the first three years — the exemption under Alcoholic Beverage Code Sec. 11.38(d). After the third year it is $1,125 for a one-year permit, then $1,500 at the second renewal and $750 at the third and subsequent renewals, each covering two years. A new restaurant opening a bar in San Antonio therefore pays no city alcohol fee at all until year four, which is a genuine and time-limited saving worth planning around.

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 San Antonio

• Coin-Operated Amusement Machine Decal — City of San Antonio Finance Department, $15 per machine, per year, expires 31 May each year. Also required for retail stores and fitness studios; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
• Building and Fire Code Appeal — City of San Antonio Development Services Department, $155 per appeal, one-time, per appeal. Also required for retail stores, fitness studios and contractors and trades; what it involves is set out on the fitness studios page.
• On-Premises Sign Permit — City of San Antonio Development Services Department, $10.80 up to 32 sq ft of sign area, then $10.80 plus $0.22 per sq ft above 32; plus a height fee of $2.00 per foot of height, not stated in the published fee schedule. Also required for retail stores, coffee shops, salons and barbers, auto repair shops, fitness studios and veterinary clinics; what it involves is set out on the auto repair shops page.
• Zoning Change — City of San Antonio Development Services Department, $795–$5,930 by site acreage, one-time, per application. Also required for retail stores, auto repair shops, fitness studios and contractors and trades; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
• Food Establishment Permit — San Antonio Metropolitan Health District, $310–$928 per year, banded by gross annual food sales, annual. Also required for coffee shops and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
• Landscape Plan Review — City of San Antonio Development Services Department, $175–$1,000 by site acreage, one-time, per review. Also required for retail stores, fitness studios and contractors and trades; what it involves is set out on the contractors and trades page.
• Temporary Commercial Certificate of Occupancy — City of San Antonio Development Services Department, $500 per certificate, extendable at $100 per extension. Also required for coffee shops, retail stores and fitness studios; what it involves is set out on the fitness studios page.
• Certificate of Occupancy — Tent — City of San Antonio Development Services Department, $100 per tent, per event. Also required for retail stores, food trucks and coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
• Commercial Demolition Permit — City of San Antonio Development Services Department, $100–$650 by number of storeys, not stated in the published fee schedule. Also required for retail stores and contractors and trades; what it involves is set out on the contractors and trades page.
• Zoning Verification Letter — City of San Antonio Development Services Department, $350 per letter, one-time, per letter. Also required for retail stores, auto repair shops, fitness studios, childcare centres, veterinary clinics and salons and barbers; what it involves is set out on the veterinary clinics page.
• Conditional Use Authorisation — City of San Antonio Development Services Department, $300 per application, one-time, per application. Also required for retail stores, auto repair shops, childcare centres, veterinary clinics and fitness studios; what it involves is set out on the auto repair shops page.
• Alcohol Variance — City of San Antonio Development Services Department, $300 per application, one-time, per application. Also required for retail stores; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
• Wine and Beer Retailer's License — City Fee — City of San Antonio Finance Department, $750–$1,000 original or renewal, two years, two years. Also required for coffee shops and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
• School Food Permit — San Antonio Metropolitan Health District, $240 per year, one school year. Also required for childcare centres; what it involves is set out on the childcare centres page.
• Health Licensing Inspection — Change of Ownership — San Antonio Metropolitan Health District, $150 per inspection, one-time, per change of ownership. Also required for coffee shops and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.