What permits do you need to open a coffee shop in Washington County Ut?

Food Handler Card / Food Safety Manager Certification

Anyone handling food at a restaurant, coffee shop, or food truck anywhere in Washington County needs a Food Handler Card from SWUPHD: $25.00, valid for 3 years, with a $5.00 duplicate-card fee, per the SWUPHD Fee Schedule effective May 1, 2026. A Food Safety Manager Exam Proctor Fee, $25.00 and including one retake, applies separately to a manager-level certification exam. SWUPHD's coverage reaches every part of Washington County, including inside each of the 15 incorporated cities and towns.

Food Establishment Plan Review

Before building, remodeling, or changing ownership of a restaurant or coffee shop anywhere in Washington County, SWUPHD reviews the plans and charges a one-time fee of $400.00 for a Risk 1 or 2 establishment or $660.00 for a Risk 3 or 4 establishment, per the SWUPHD Fee Schedule effective May 1, 2026. This review is a prerequisite to the annual Food Establishment Permit listed separately. SWUPHD's coverage reaches every part of Washington County, including inside each of the 15 incorporated cities and towns, because it is a five-county district rather than a jurisdiction limited to unincorporated territory.

Shared with other businesses in Washington County Ut

• Major Home Occupation Business License — Washington County Community Development Department, $50.00 major home occupation business license (annual), plus the $10.00 application processing fee and the $10.00/$5.00 full-time/part-time employee fees; a 2-year license option is also available at the same per-year rate., Annual, or a 2-year option. Also required for restaurants, childcare centres, salons and barbers, retail stores and contractors and trades; what it involves is set out on the contractors and trades page.
• County Alcohol Business License — Washington County Community Development Department, Single-license application: $25.00 processing fee plus $250.00 alcohol license fee, per the county's own live alcohol-license application portal. Applying for multiple alcohol licenses at the same time: $225.00 for the first license plus $25.00 processing fee for each additional license, per the county's business-license-information page., Annual, expiring January 31; renewal due by February 28 (a 50% penalty applies after February 28, and a 100% penalty with required reapplication applies after March 31). Also required for restaurants and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
• Food Establishment Permit — Southwest Utah Public Health Department, $220–$660 a year, by risk category, per the SWUPHD Fee Schedule effective May 1, 2026: Risk 1 $220.00; Risk 2 $325.00; Risk 3 $450.00; Risk 4 $660.00, not stated in the published fee schedule. Also required for restaurants; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.
• Temporary Food Establishment Permit — Southwest Utah Public Health Department, Tier/Risk 1 $60.00 (plus $25.00 if applied for on-site); Tier/Risk 2 $85.00 (plus $25.00 if applied for on-site); Seasonal (up to 6 months) Tier 1 $125.00; Tier 2 $180.00. Per the SWUPHD Fee Schedule effective May 1, 2026., Per event, or up to 6 months under the seasonal tier. Also required for restaurants and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.
• Minor Home Occupation — License Not Required Under County Code § 10-26-3(B) — Washington County Community Development Department, No fee, n/a — no license is issued unless a courtesy license is separately requested. Also required for restaurants, childcare centres, salons and barbers, retail stores and contractors and trades; what it involves is set out on the childcare centres page.
• Mobile Food Establishment Permit — Southwest Utah Public Health Department, Mobile establishment plan review $380.00 (one-time); primary permit Tier 1 $350.00 a year; primary permit Tier 2 $500.00 a year. Per the SWUPHD Fee Schedule effective May 1, 2026., Annual, after a one-time $380.00 plan review for a new unit. Also required for food trucks; what it involves is set out on the food trucks page.
• Food Establishment Conditional Permit (Change of Ownership) — Southwest Utah Public Health Department, $220 flat, one-time, per change of ownership, One-time, per change of ownership. Also required for restaurants; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.
• Food Handler Card — Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, Regulatory Services Division, Food handler permit fee of no more than $15, uniform statewide, paid to the local health department under rule R392-103; the approved training provider may also charge its own reasonable training fee, and may collect both at once, 3 years, valid statewide (rule R392-103). Also required for restaurants and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.
• Food Service Establishment Permit (local, not state) — Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, Regulatory Services Division, No fee, set locally. Also required for restaurants and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the food trucks page.