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16 permits · verified 2026-10-07

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

In short

A restaurant in Dane County, WI has 3 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 13 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Corporate and Consumer Services charges $100 one-time filing, on paper or online for the articles of incorporation. 10 of the 16 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-10-07 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.

Permits particular to a restaurant in Dane County

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Transient Food Establishment License (events)only if it applies to youPublic Health Madison & Dane County, Environmental Health Division$105.30–$175.50 PHMDC annual fee: $105.30 (prepackaged TCS food only), $140.40 (non-TCS food), $175.50 (TCS food); plus the State (DATCP) fee, 14% of the DATCP license fee in ATCP 75.08 Table B. A transient operator already licensed by the State or another Wisconsin municipality may instead be charged an inspection fee of $25 per day (Ord. 46.34(1)(a))annual fee on the PHMDC schedule; a transient food establishment operates at an event for no more than 14 days2026-10-07
Food License Reinspection, Administrative and Penalty Feesonly if it applies to youPublic Health Madison & Dane County, Environmental Health DivisionReinspection by sales tier (same for every complexity): first reinspection $37.50 (lowest tier), $75, $112.50, $225, $375, $750 and $1,125 (over $5M); second reinspection $56.25 (lowest tier) to $1,687.50 (highest); third and later $112.50 (lowest tier) to $3,375 (highest). Administrative (document verification-only) reinspection: $37.50. Operating without a license: $375. Operating without a certified food manager: $225. Special condition inspection: $375. HACCP plan validation: $150; HACCP plan verification: $150; risk control plan: $150. Late payment: 25% of the permit fee (Ord. 46.35(1)). Duplicate permit: $5 (Ord. 46.35(3)).per occurrence; charged when the triggering event happens2026-10-07
Retail Food Establishment License – Serving MealsPublic Health Madison & Dane County, Environmental Health Division$266.76–$1,457.35 PHMDC annual fee by gross annual food and drink sales: up to $10,000 $266.76; $10,001-$100,000 $591.08; $100,001-$250,000 $759.56; $250,001-$500,000 $1,062.83; $500,001-$1M $1,090.91; $1M-$5M $1,312.74; over $5M $1,457.35. A new license also pays a one-time pre-inspection / plan review fee of $562.50, $600.00, $675.00, $750.00, $900.00, $1,050.00 or $1,200.00 for those tiers. Plus the State (DATCP) annual fee, 14% of the DATCP license fee in ATCP 75.08 Table B, set by complexityannual; licenses expire June 30, and a license first issued between April 1 and June 30 runs to June 30 of the following year (Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 75.06(2)(a))2026-10-07
Retail Food Establishment LicenseWisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, Division of Food and Recreational Safety$105–$1,457.35 a year — $105 to $540 from the state, more where a local health department is the licensing agentannual, expiring 30 June2026-09-03
Certified Food Protection Manageronly if it applies to youWisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, Division of Food and Recreational SafetyNo fee5 years2026-09-03

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 Dane County

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Sanitary Permit (Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment System)only if it applies to youPublic Health Madison & Dane County, Environmental Health DivisionVaries — formula on the Dane County pagea sanitary permit is valid for two years (Ord. 46.08(5)); renewal or transfer $2012026-10-07
Well Location Permitonly if it applies to youPublic Health Madison & Dane County, Environmental Health DivisionVaries — formula on the Dane County pagevalid for one year or until construction is completed, whichever comes first (Ord. 45.21(12))2026-10-07
County Zoning Permit – Commercial Construction, Additions and Alterations (county-zoned towns)only if it applies to youDane County Department of Planning & Development, Zoning DivisionVaries — formula on the Dane County pageone-time, per project2026-10-07
Conditional Use Permit, Rezone, Variance and Appeal (county-zoned towns)only if it applies to youDane County Department of Planning & Development, Zoning DivisionVaries — formula on the Dane County pageone-time, per application2026-10-07
County Sign Permit (county-zoned towns)only if it applies to youDane County Department of Planning & Development, Zoning DivisionVaries — formula on the Dane County pageone-time, per sign2026-10-07
County Trunk Highway Access Permit – Commercial Siteonly if it applies to youDane County Highway and Transportation DepartmentVaries — formula on the Dane County pageone-time, per access permit2026-10-07

Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.

WI registrations that apply to every type of business

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Articles of Incorporationonly if it applies to youWisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Corporate and Consumer Services$100 one-time filing, on paper or onlineperpetual, but an annual report is due each year2026-09-03
General Business License — Wisconsin positiononly if it applies to youWisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Corporate and Consumer ServicesNo feenot applicable2026-09-03
Articles of Organization (LLC)only if it applies to youWisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Corporate and Consumer Services$130 one-time online filing plus a $1 portal fee; $170 on paperperpetual, but an annual report is due each year2026-09-03
Annual Reportonly if it applies to youWisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Corporate and Consumer Services$25 a year online; $40 on paper, which is the $25 plus a $15 paper surchargeannual — due at the end of the calendar quarter containing the anniversary of formation2026-09-03
Seller's Permit and Business Tax RegistrationWisconsin Department of Revenue$20 initial registration covering two years; $10 to renew each two-year period2 years2026-09-03

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 Dane County?

There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 16 records listed for a restaurant in Dane County, WI, 3 apply to every business of this type and 13 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 3 that always apply, 1 carry a flat fee, coming to $20.00. That is a floor, not a total. 10 of the 16 are charged as a range or a formula set by the issuing agency, and 2 have no fee published at all. The ones particular to this business that vary:

Transient Food Establishment License (events): $105.30–$175.50 PHMDC annual fee: $105.30 (prepackaged TCS food only), $140.40 (non-TCS food), $175.50 (TCS food); plus the State (DATCP) fee, 14% of the DATCP license fee in ATCP 75.08 Table B. A transient operator already licensed by the State or another Wisconsin municipality may instead be charged an inspection fee of $25 per day (Ord. 46.34(1)(a))

Food License Reinspection, Administrative and Penalty Fees: Reinspection by sales tier (same for every complexity): first reinspection $37.50 (lowest tier), $75, $112.50, $225, $375, $750 and $1,125 (over $5M); second reinspection $56.25 (lowest tier) to $1,687.50 (highest); third and later $112.50 (lowest tier) to $3,375 (highest). Administrative (document verification-only) reinspection: $37.50. Operating without a license: $375. Operating without a certified food manager: $225. Special condition inspection: $375. HACCP plan validation: $150; HACCP plan verification: $150; risk control plan: $150. Late payment: 25% of the permit fee (Ord. 46.35(1)). Duplicate permit: $5 (Ord. 46.35(3)).

Retail Food Establishment License – Serving Meals: $266.76–$1,457.35 PHMDC annual fee by gross annual food and drink sales: up to $10,000 $266.76; $10,001-$100,000 $591.08; $100,001-$250,000 $759.56; $250,001-$500,000 $1,062.83; $500,001-$1M $1,090.91; $1M-$5M $1,312.74; over $5M $1,457.35. A new license also pays a one-time pre-inspection / plan review fee of $562.50, $600.00, $675.00, $750.00, $900.00, $1,050.00 or $1,200.00 for those tiers. Plus the State (DATCP) annual fee, 14% of the DATCP license fee in ATCP 75.08 Table B, set by complexity

Retail Food Establishment License: $105–$1,457.35 a year — $105 to $540 from the state, more where a local health department is the licensing agent

The other 6 variable fees belong to permits that apply to every type of business here; their formulas are set out on the Dane County permits page and the WI state page.

Which offices issue these permits in Dane County?

Permits for a restaurant in Dane County, WI come from 6 separate offices: Public Health Madison & Dane County, Environmental Health Division, Dane County Department of Planning & Development, Zoning Division, Dane County Highway and Transportation Department, Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Corporate and Consumer Services, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, Division of Food and Recreational Safety, Wisconsin Department of Revenue. No single office issues them all, which is why an opening means filing in several places rather than one.

What does a restaurant need in Dane County that other businesses do not?

Retail Food Establishment License – Serving Meals

A restaurant, or a coffee shop that serves meals, anywhere in Dane County needs this license from Public Health Madison & Dane County (PHMDC), which licenses retail food establishments as the agent of the State of Wisconsin (2025 RES-366). PHMDC's food page states that "All Dane County food establishments must be licensed and inspected each year" and that "The City of Madison Clerk's office processes all food and drink applications and fees in Madison and Dane County", so the application and payment go to the City Clerk's Office even outside Madison; for events on the UW-Madison campus, PHMDC directs vendors to UW Environmental Health & Safety. The PHMDC annual fee is set by gross annual food and drink sales, from $266.76 to $1,457.35, and a new license also pays a one-time pre-inspection / plan review fee of $562.50 to $1,200.00. The PHMDC fee and pre-inspection fee are those adopted by 2025 RES-364 (County Board adopted April 16, 2026, County Executive signed April 20, 2026, effective April 1, 2026, under Ord. 46.34(1)) and printed on PHMDC's published fee schedule dated May 4, 2026. PHMDC also collects the State (DATCP) annual fee with the license; RES-364 sets it at 14% of the DATCP license fee in Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 75.08 Table B, and PHMDC is contractually required to reimburse DATCP. The State fee depends on the establishment's complexity, so it is shown here by its basis rather than as a total. New or remodelled premises send kitchen plans to the Environmental Health Division and schedule a pre-inspection. Contact PHMDC at 608-242-6515.

Shared with other businesses in Dane County

  • Transient Food Establishment License (events) — Public Health Madison & Dane County, Environmental Health Division, $105.30–$175.50 PHMDC annual fee: $105.30 (prepackaged TCS food only), $140.40 (non-TCS food), $175.50 (TCS food); plus the State (DATCP) fee, 14% of the DATCP license fee in ATCP 75.08 Table B. A transient operator already licensed by the State or another Wisconsin municipality may instead be charged an inspection fee of $25 per day (Ord. 46.34(1)(a)), annual fee on the PHMDC schedule; a transient food establishment operates at an event for no more than 14 days. Also required for food trucks and coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the food trucks page.
  • Food License Reinspection, Administrative and Penalty Fees — Public Health Madison & Dane County, Environmental Health Division, Reinspection by sales tier (same for every complexity): first reinspection $37.50 (lowest tier), $75, $112.50, $225, $375, $750 and $1,125 (over $5M); second reinspection $56.25 (lowest tier) to $1,687.50 (highest); third and later $112.50 (lowest tier) to $3,375 (highest). Administrative (document verification-only) reinspection: $37.50. Operating without a license: $375. Operating without a certified food manager: $225. Special condition inspection: $375. HACCP plan validation: $150; HACCP plan verification: $150; risk control plan: $150. Late payment: 25% of the permit fee (Ord. 46.35(1)). Duplicate permit: $5 (Ord. 46.35(3))., per occurrence; charged when the triggering event happens. Also required for coffee shops, food trucks and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
  • Retail Food Establishment License — Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, Division of Food and Recreational Safety, $105–$1,457.35 a year — $105 to $540 from the state, more where a local health department is the licensing agent, annual, expiring 30 June. Also required for coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
  • Certified Food Protection Manager — Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, Division of Food and Recreational Safety, No fee, 5 years. Also required for coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the food trucks page.

The other 6 local permits in the tables apply to every type of business in Dane County, WI; what each one involves is set out on the Dane County permits page. The 5 state-level registrations apply to every type of business across WI and are covered on the WI state page.

How does a restaurant compare with other businesses in Dane County?

The closest match is a coffee shop, which shares 5 of these permits. A coffee shop needs Retail Food Establishment License – Not Serving Meals, which a restaurant does not.

Permits particular to each business type in Dane County, WI, compared with a restaurant
BusinessIts own permitsShared with a restaurantOnly a restaurant needsOnly it needs
Coffee shops6501
Food trucks5411
Retail stores2141
Auto repair shops1051
Childcare centres1051
Contractors and trades3053
Fitness studios1051
Salons and barbers2052
Veterinary clinics1051

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 food trucks page, retail stores page and coffee shops page. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the Dane County permits page and the WI state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.

  1. Public Health Madison and Dane County — food license fees effective 4 May 2026Public Health Madison and Dane County · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
  2. 2025 RES-364 attachment — 2026 food license fees (adopted table)Dane County Board of Supervisors · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
  3. 2025 RES-364 — DATCP reimbursement update and PHMDC license fee schedulesDane County Board of Supervisors · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
  4. 2025 RES-364 (matter 31667) legislative history — County Board adoption April 16, 2026Dane County Board of Supervisors · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
  5. Dane County Code of Ordinances ch. 46, Private Sewage Systems and Public Health (rev. 01/31/25) — ss. 46.08, 46.23, 46.34, 46.35Dane County · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
  6. Wis. Admin. Code ch. ATCP 75 — retail food establishments (75.06 licence term; 75.08 Table B licence fees)Wisconsin Legislature · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
  7. Food Establishments — licensing, City of Madison Clerk processing, mobile and transient vendorsPublic Health Madison & Dane County · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07

Related

Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.