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15 permits · verified 2026-10-07

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

In short

A coffee shop in Racine County, WI has 3 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 12 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. 9 of the 15 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 coffee shop in Racine County

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Retail Food Establishment License — Serving MealsRacine County Public Health Division, Environmental Health (Human Services Department)$237–$864 license fee per establishment per license year, by complexity: Prepackaged (TCS) $237; Simple $375; Moderate $644; Complex $864. A new establishment also pays a pre-license inspection fee ($167 / $298 / $372 / $447) and a plan review fee ($54 / $72 / $214 / $250)annual; expires June 30 each year, and a license issued for a new establishment on or after March 30 and before July 1 expires June 30 of the following year (Wis. Stat. § 97.30(2)(a))2026-10-07
Retail Food Establishment License — Not Serving Mealsonly if it applies to youRacine County Public Health Division, Environmental Health (Human Services Department)$151–$1,246 license fee per establishment per license year, by complexity: Prepackaged (TCS) $151; Simple Non-TCS $237; Simple TCS $439; Moderate $644; Complex $1,246. A new establishment also pays a pre-license inspection fee ($127 / $150 / $298 / $372 / $521) and, except for Prepackaged, a plan review fee ($72 / $72 / $214 / $285)annual; expires June 30 each year, and a license issued for a new establishment on or after March 30 and before July 1 expires June 30 of the following year (Wis. Stat. § 97.30(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 Racine County

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
County Zoning Permit — Commercial, Recreational and Institutional (Towns of Burlington, Dover, Norway and Waterford)only if it applies to youRacine County Public Works & Development Services, Development ServicesVaries — formula on the Racine County pageexpires within nine months unless substantial work has commenced and is continuing; one extension for a like period on request and payment of the fee before expiry (County Code § 20-83)2026-10-07
County Sign Permit (Towns of Burlington, Dover, Norway and Waterford)only if it applies to youRacine County Public Works & Development Services, Development ServicesVaries — formula on the Racine County pageone-time, per sign2026-10-07
Zoning Occupancy Permit (Towns of Burlington, Dover, Norway and Waterford)only if it applies to youRacine County Public Works & Development Services, Development ServicesVaries — formula on the Racine County pageone-time, issued when the building or premises and the proposed use conform to the zoning ordinance (County Code §§ 20-102, 20-103)2026-10-07
Sanitary Permit — Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment System (areas not served by public sewer)only if it applies to youRacine County Public Works & Development Services, Development ServicesVaries — formula on the Racine County pagevalid for two years from the date of issue; renewable on written application and fee before expiry (County Code § 19-72)2026-10-07
Conditional Use, Rezoning, Variance and Site Plan Review (Towns of Burlington, Dover, Norway and Waterford)only if it applies to youRacine County Public Works & Development Services, Development ServicesVaries — formula on the Racine County pageone-time, per application2026-10-07
County Trunk Highway Access (Driveway) Permit — Commercialonly if it applies to youRacine County Public Works & Development Services, Public Works (Highway Permits)Varies — formula on the Racine 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 coffee shop in Racine County?

There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 15 records listed for a coffee shop in Racine County, WI, 3 apply to every business of this type and 12 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. 9 of the 15 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:

Retail Food Establishment License — Serving Meals: $237–$864 license fee per establishment per license year, by complexity: Prepackaged (TCS) $237; Simple $375; Moderate $644; Complex $864. A new establishment also pays a pre-license inspection fee ($167 / $298 / $372 / $447) and a plan review fee ($54 / $72 / $214 / $250)

Retail Food Establishment License — Not Serving Meals: $151–$1,246 license fee per establishment per license year, by complexity: Prepackaged (TCS) $151; Simple Non-TCS $237; Simple TCS $439; Moderate $644; Complex $1,246. A new establishment also pays a pre-license inspection fee ($127 / $150 / $298 / $372 / $521) and, except for Prepackaged, a plan review fee ($72 / $72 / $214 / $285)

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 Racine County permits page and the WI state page.

Which offices issue these permits in Racine County?

Permits for a coffee shop in Racine County, WI come from 6 separate offices: Racine County Public Works & Development Services, Development Services, Racine County Public Health Division, Environmental Health (Human Services Department), Racine County Public Works & Development Services, Public Works (Highway Permits), 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 coffee shop need in Racine County that other businesses do not?

Retail Food Establishment License

Who licenses you depends on your address. The agriculture department licenses retail food across most of the state at $105 for prepackaged, $230 simple, $330 moderate and $540 complex, plus a one-off pre-inspection of $130 to $770 — but a local health department that has signed an agent contract licenses and prices in the state's place within its own jurisdiction. The spread is real: Oneida County charges $120 to $615 with identical pre-inspection fees, while Public Health Madison and Dane County charges an agency fee from $266.76 to $1,457.35 banded by food and drink sales, collects the state portion on top and remits it, and adds plan review of $562.50 to $1,200. So a single Wisconsin restaurant fee does not exist. Every license expires on 30 June whenever it was issued, though one granted after 1 April runs to the following June. Operating unlicensed adds a $749 surcharge. The department's restaurants and catering page states that organisations such as youth groups, churches and service clubs that prepare, serve or sell food to the public on no more than three days in any twelve-month period do not need a serving-meals license.

Shared with other businesses in Racine County

  • Retail Food Establishment License — Serving Meals — Racine County Public Health Division, Environmental Health (Human Services Department), $237–$864 license fee per establishment per license year, by complexity: Prepackaged (TCS) $237; Simple $375; Moderate $644; Complex $864. A new establishment also pays a pre-license inspection fee ($167 / $298 / $372 / $447) and a plan review fee ($54 / $72 / $214 / $250), annual; expires June 30 each year, and a license issued for a new establishment on or after March 30 and before July 1 expires June 30 of the following year (Wis. Stat. § 97.30(2)(a)). Also required for restaurants; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.
  • Retail Food Establishment License — Not Serving Meals — Racine County Public Health Division, Environmental Health (Human Services Department), $151–$1,246 license fee per establishment per license year, by complexity: Prepackaged (TCS) $151; Simple Non-TCS $237; Simple TCS $439; Moderate $644; Complex $1,246. A new establishment also pays a pre-license inspection fee ($127 / $150 / $298 / $372 / $521) and, except for Prepackaged, a plan review fee ($72 / $72 / $214 / $285), annual; expires June 30 each year, and a license issued for a new establishment on or after March 30 and before July 1 expires June 30 of the following year (Wis. Stat. § 97.30(2)(a)). Also required for retail stores; what it involves is set out on the retail stores 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 restaurants 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 Racine County, WI; what each one involves is set out on the Racine 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 coffee shop compare with other businesses in Racine County?

The closest match is a restaurant, which shares 3 of these permits. A coffee shop also needs Retail Food Establishment License — Not Serving Meals. A restaurant needs Transient Retail Food Establishment License (special events), which a coffee shop does not.

Permits particular to each business type in Racine County, WI, compared with a coffee shop
BusinessIts own permitsShared with a coffee shopOnly a coffee shop needsOnly it needs
Restaurants4311
Food trucks6224
Retail stores1130
Auto repair shops1041
Childcare centres1041
Contractors and trades3043
Fitness studios2042
Salons and barbers3043
Veterinary clinics2042

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

  1. Wisconsin DATCP — restaurants and catering, confirming licenses are issued by the department or its agent health departmentsWisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
  2. Wisconsin DATCP — retail food establishment fee scheduleWisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
  3. Public Health Madison and Dane County — food license fees effective 4 May 2026Public Health Madison and Dane County · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
  4. Oneida County Public Health Department — food and lodging licensing as a DATCP agentOneida County Health Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03

Related

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