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

Food Establishment Permit

Any restaurant or coffee shop anywhere in Washington County — inside any of the 15 incorporated cities and towns or in the unincorporated area — needs this permit from the Southwest Utah Public Health Department, priced from $220.00 to $660.00 by risk category (Risk 1 through Risk 4), per the SWUPHD Fee Schedule, which states an effective date of May 1, 2026 and remains the current schedule with no later version published. SWUPHD is a five-county local health department serving Washington, Iron, Kane, Beaver, and Garfield Counties jointly, so its reach within Washington County is genuinely county-wide, unlike the county's own Community Development programs, which reach unincorporated territory only. A business inside an incorporated city also needs that city's own separate business license, which this permit does not substitute for.

Temporary Food Establishment Permit

A restaurant, coffee shop, or food truck serving food at a fair, festival, or other one-off event anywhere in Washington County needs this permit instead of the annual Food Establishment or Mobile Food Establishment permits listed separately. The SWUPHD Fee Schedule, effective May 1, 2026, prices it at $60.00 for Tier/Risk 1 or $85.00 for Tier/Risk 2 (each plus $25.00 if applied for on-site), or, for a seasonal operation running up to six months, $125.00 at Tier 1 or $180.00 at Tier 2. SWUPHD's coverage reaches every part of Washington County, including inside each of the 15 incorporated cities and towns.

Food Establishment Conditional Permit (Change of Ownership)

When a restaurant or coffee shop in Washington County changes ownership, the new operator pays SWUPHD a $220.00 Food Establishments Conditional Permit fee, per the SWUPHD Fee Schedule effective May 1, 2026, in place of a new full plan review while the existing facility continues to operate under the same conditions. This is separate from the annual Food Establishment Permit listed separately, which the new operator still carries forward. SWUPHD's coverage reaches every part of Washington County, including inside each of the 15 incorporated cities and towns.

Food Handler Card

A food handler card is required, and it must come from a provider on the state's own approved list — the agriculture department publishes that list directly and states plainly that a card from an unapproved source will not be accepted by a local health department. Utah Administrative Code R392-103 sets the food handler permit fee at no more than $15, uniform statewide, payable to the local health department, and states that food handler permits are valid for 3 years statewide; a training provider may charge its own reasonable training fee on top. Confirm the provider's training price before budgeting for it.

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 coffee shops, 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 coffee shops and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
• Food Handler Card / Food Safety Manager Certification — Southwest Utah Public Health Department, Food Handler Card $25.00, valid 3 years; duplicate card $5.00. Food Safety Manager Exam Proctor Fee $25.00, including one retake. Per the SWUPHD Fee Schedule effective May 1, 2026., 3 years (Food Handler Card); per exam (Food Safety Manager Proctor Fee). Also required for coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops 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 coffee shops, childcare centres, salons and barbers, retail stores and contractors and trades; what it involves is set out on the childcare centres page.
• Food Establishment Plan Review — Southwest Utah Public Health Department, $400–$660 one-time, per project, per the SWUPHD Fee Schedule effective May 1, 2026: Risk 1/2 $400.00; Risk 3/4 $660.00, One-time, per project. Also required for coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
• Food Service Establishment Permit (local, not state) — Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, Regulatory Services Division, No fee, set locally. Also required for coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the food trucks page.