What permits do you need to open a retail store in Salt Lake County?

Seasonal Business License

A restaurant, coffee shop, food truck, or retail store operating in the MSD footprint (unincorporated Salt Lake County plus Brighton, Copperton, Emigration Canyon, Kearns, Magna, and White City) for 60 days or fewer in a year may take this seasonal license instead of the 12-month general license, priced at $120.00 flat per the FY2027 Fee Schedule for Salt Lake County, adopted and effective September 22, 2026. A business operating beyond that 60-day window needs the general commercial license listed elsewhere here instead. Outside the MSD footprint, each of the county's other 17 municipalities runs its own seasonal or temporary licensing process.

Animal Services Commercial Permit — Allows Up to 30 Animals

A groomer, animal daycare or kennel, stable, or pet shop covering up to 30 animals pays $300.00 for this commercial permit from Salt Lake County Animal Services, per the department's own live payment page linked directly from its Permits page. This permit reaches a third, distinct footprint — different from both the MSD footprint and the county-wide SLCoHD footprint — covering the six MSD municipalities (Brighton, Copperton, Emigration Canyon, Kearns, Magna, White City) plus Bluffdale, Holladay, Midvale, Millcreek, Murray, and Salt Lake City only; a business in Sandy, West Jordan, Draper, Taylorsville, West Valley City, or any of the county's other municipalities outside this list uses its own city's animal control instead. The source names this tier only as 'Allows Up to 30,' without further defining what the number 30 counts; a veterinary clinic offering boarding, grooming, or kennel services under one of these named categories falls within this permit's scope alongside a stand-alone groomer, kennel, stable, or pet shop.

Simple Land Use Permit

MSD prices a Simple Land Use Permit at $175.00 flat, per the FY2027 Fee Schedule for Salt Lake County, adopted and effective September 22, 2026, for uses including a home daycare or preschool (childcare), a mobile store (retail-store, food-truck), a condo conversion, and a Foothills & Canyons Overlay Zone fuels-reduction plan. This applies only in the MSD footprint (unincorporated Salt Lake County plus Brighton, Copperton, Emigration Canyon, Kearns, Magna, and White City); outside that footprint, each of the county's other 17 municipalities runs its own land-use permitting process for the same kinds of uses.

Retail Food Establishment Registration (grocery, processor or warehouse)

This is the state's own registration, and it applies only to a grocery, a food processor or a warehouse — never to a restaurant. The fee runs in five bands by size and function, from $100 for a cottage operation up to $1,250 for a large processor or grocer. Anything serving food for immediate consumption is licensed instead by a local health department under a different fee entirely — see the food service permit record.

Shared with other businesses in Salt Lake County

• Alcohol License/Permit — Local Consent Fee — Greater Salt Lake Municipal Services District, Planning & Development Services, Off-Premise Beer Retailer $250.00; Recreational On-Premise Beer Retailer $350.00; Restaurant Liquor $500.00; Limited Restaurant Liquor $500.00; Beer-Only Restaurant $350.00; On-Premise Beer Tavern $350.00; Resort $500.00; Club Liquor $600.00; Banquet and Catering $500.00; Single Event $150.00; Wholesale Beer $300.00; Manufacturing $350.00 — per the FY2027 Fee Schedule for Salt Lake County, adopted and effective September 22, 2026., not stated in the published fee schedule. Also required for restaurants, coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.
• Animal Services Commercial Permit — Allows Over 30 Animals — Salt Lake County Animal Services, $500 flat, per commercial permit covering over 30 animals, not stated in the published fee schedule. Also required for veterinary clinics and salons and barbers; what it involves is set out on the salons and barbers page.