Caterer permits in Atlanta, Georgia

The city and county permits, taxes, and inspections a caterer needs in Atlanta (Fulton and DeKalb counties), on top of the statewide Georgia and federal credentials covered on their own pages.

Local feesRenting a slot in an already-licensed commissary avoids the city building, grease, and fire costs, dropping first-year local fees to roughly the county kitchen permit ($450 to $750 in Fulton) plus the $191 Atlanta occupational tax registration, while building out your own kitchen adds valuation-based building permits, a $300 grease permit, and fire systems that can run several thousand dollars.CountyFulton and DeKalb counties

This page covers only the Atlanta city and county permits for caterers. The statewide Georgia credentials and the federal credentials every caterer needs are on their own pages.

All Georgia requirementsCaterers in Georgia Federal requirementsEvery caterer nationwide

What you need to run a caterer in Atlanta

Credential	Level	Fee	Renewal
Fulton County Food Service Establishment Permit (Catering Base Kitchen)	County	$450 (Risk Type I) to $750 (Risk Type III) a year; a full-cooking catering kitchen usually lands at Risk Type III. Fee schedule effective April 1, 2022, so confirm the current amount with the Fulton County Board of Health at 770-520-7500.	Annual (on the anniversary of issuance)
Fulton County Food Service Establishment Plan Review (Catering Base Kitchen)	County	Matches the annual permit by risk type, $450 (Type I) to $750 (Type III), charged once for a new build; a resubmittal after the first free one costs $250	One-time per new build, change of ownership, or major renovation
Fulton County Temporary Food Service Permit (Public Events)	County	$100 base for a 1 to 7 day event or $200 for an 8 to 14 day event, plus a daily inspection fee of $37 (Risk Type I) or $73 (Risk Type II); confirm current amounts with FCBOH at 770-520-7500	Per event
DeKalb County Food Service Establishment Permit (Catering Base Kitchen)	County	$240 (Category 1) to $250 (Category 3) a year, from the DeKalb Public Health fee schedule effective January 1, 2024; a full-menu catering kitchen typically falls in Category 2 or 3. Confirm with DeKalb Public Health at 404-508-7900.	Annual (all DeKalb permits expire June 30)
DeKalb County Food Service Establishment Plan Review (Catering Base Kitchen)	County	$300 (Category 1), $350 (Category 2), or $500 (Category 3), one-time, from the fee schedule effective January 1, 2024	One-time per new build, change of ownership, or renovation
DeKalb County Temporary Food Service Permit (Public Events)	County	$150 for the first 4 days, then $20 a day up to 14 consecutive days; card payments add a 3.95 percent surcharge	Per event
City of Atlanta Business Occupational Tax Certificate	City	A $191 annual registration for the 2026 tax year (up from $75), plus a flat $50 tax on the first $10,000 of Georgia gross receipts, a class-based rate above that, $25 per employee after the first, and a $50 zoning review on a new application	Annual; renew by February 15 or face a $500 penalty
City of Atlanta Retail Alcohol License (On-Premise Consumption)	City	$5,000 a year for beer, wine, and mixed drinks (prorated to $2,500 if you first apply after July 1), plus a $300 non-refundable application filing fee and a $20 per-person fingerprint fee	Annual; expires December 31
City of Atlanta Off-Premise Alcoholic Beverage Catering License	City	An annual fee set locally under O.C.G.A. 3-11-2(e), capped at $5,000 per licensed location; the specific Atlanta amount is not in the published fee table, so confirm it with the APD License and Permit Unit at 404-546-4470	Annual
City of Atlanta Special Events Alcohol Permit (Per-Event)	City	$50 processing and background fee plus a $20 fingerprint fee, plus the permit itself at $100 for a for-profit applicant or $25 for a nonprofit	Per event
City of Atlanta Commercial Building Permit and Certificate of Occupancy (Own Kitchen Build-Out)	City	A $150 minimum permit fee plus a $25 technology fee, then roughly $7 per $1,000 of construction value above that, with a Certificate of Occupancy at $100 per story; trade permits are filed and priced separately	One-time per project; the Certificate of Occupancy stands until the use changes
City of Atlanta Grease Management Permit (FOG, Own Kitchen Build-Out)	City	$300 a year for a kitchen with 1 to 5 grease traps, the usual tier for a single catering kitchen, scaling up in $300 steps as trap count rises	Annual
Atlanta Fire Rescue Fire Safety Inspection and Systems Plan Review (Own Kitchen Build-Out)	City	Fire plan review and inspection fees are folded into the Office of Buildings permit process; a separate AFRD schedule is not published, so confirm with the Office of the Fire Marshal at 404-546-7000	One-time for the initial Certificate of Occupancy; hood suppression systems are inspected semiannually under NFPA 17A

A typical caterer in Atlanta, Georgia needs 25 separate credentials to operate legally, and that is for one location. Federal, statewide, and local Atlanta requirements all stack on the same caterer, each with its own renewal date, fee, and issuing agency.

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Each caterer credential in Atlanta, explained

Grouped by the level of government that issues it, county then city. Every credential here is specific to operating a caterer in Atlanta, Georgia.

County level

6 credentials

Fulton County Food Service Establishment Permit (Catering Base Kitchen)

The county-issued instance of the state food service permit for a caterer whose base kitchen sits in the Fulton County portion of Atlanta, which is most of the city. It applies whether you own or rent the kitchen, and it is not transferable between people or locations. Even in a shared commissary you pull your own permit at that kitchen address, because the commissary owner's permit does not cover your operation.

Issued by: Fulton County Board of Health, Environmental Health Services
Fee: $450 (Risk Type I) to $750 (Risk Type III) a year; a full-cooking catering kitchen usually lands at Risk Type III. Fee schedule effective April 1, 2022, so confirm the current amount with the Fulton County Board of Health at 770-520-7500.
Renewal: Annual (on the anniversary of issuance)
Processing: At least 6 weeks after plan submission, longer if plans are incomplete

Fulton County Food Service Establishment Plan Review (Catering Base Kitchen)

Required before you build out or substantially remodel your own catering kitchen in Fulton County. You submit scaled floor plans, an equipment list with spec sheets, plumbing diagrams, and a menu, and approval gates the permit. A caterer renting an already-approved, fully equipped commissary does not trigger a new-construction plan review, but still gets its own permit and pre-opening inspection.

Issued by: Fulton County Board of Health, Environmental Health Services
Fee: Matches the annual permit by risk type, $450 (Type I) to $750 (Type III), charged once for a new build; a resubmittal after the first free one costs $250
Renewal: One-time per new build, change of ownership, or major renovation
Processing: At least 6 weeks from a complete submission

Fulton County Temporary Food Service Permit (Public Events)

Required only when a caterer serves the general public at a festival, fair, or market in Fulton County, which is different from a private contracted job that rides your base kitchen permit. Fulton expects a temporary food vendor to work under an approved organized event, and the event organizer files a separate organizer application.

Issued by: Fulton County Board of Health, Environmental Health Services
Fee: $100 base for a 1 to 7 day event or $200 for an 8 to 14 day event, plus a daily inspection fee of $37 (Risk Type I) or $73 (Risk Type II); confirm current amounts with FCBOH at 770-520-7500
Renewal: Per event
Processing: Submit at least 30 days before the event

DeKalb County Food Service Establishment Permit (Catering Base Kitchen)

The DeKalb-issued food service permit for a catering base kitchen on the DeKalb side of Atlanta, which includes parts of Kirkwood and East Atlanta. The application classifies the operation as a caterer and asks for a proposed menu, scaled floor plans, and an equipment list. The permit is not transferable, and DeKalb cannot permit a kitchen on a septic system, so proof of sewer connection is required.

Issued by: DeKalb Public Health, Division of Environmental Health
Fee: $240 (Category 1) to $250 (Category 3) a year, from the DeKalb Public Health fee schedule effective January 1, 2024; a full-menu catering kitchen typically falls in Category 2 or 3. Confirm with DeKalb Public Health at 404-508-7900.
Renewal: Annual (all DeKalb permits expire June 30)
Processing: At least 14 business days for plan review; Fire Marshal approval or a Certificate of Occupancy and a pre-opening inspection come first

DeKalb County Food Service Establishment Plan Review (Catering Base Kitchen)

Required before a new DeKalb catering kitchen opens or after a renovation. Plans must be drawn to scale and include the floor plan, full equipment layout, a plumbing diagram with grease trap sizing, and a water riser diagram. The 2024 DeKalb application names caterer as a distinct operation classification, so identify your operation that way.

Issued by: DeKalb Public Health, Division of Environmental Health
Fee: $300 (Category 1), $350 (Category 2), or $500 (Category 3), one-time, from the fee schedule effective January 1, 2024
Renewal: One-time per new build, change of ownership, or renovation
Processing: 7 to 10 business days once the submission is complete

DeKalb County Temporary Food Service Permit (Public Events)

Required when a caterer serves the general public at a temporary event in DeKalb County, as opposed to a private contracted function. You submit a booth sketch, an equipment list, your food sources, and how time and temperature controlled foods stay at safe temperatures during transport and service to DeKalb Environmental Health.

Issued by: DeKalb Public Health, Division of Environmental Health
Fee: $150 for the first 4 days, then $20 a day up to 14 consecutive days; card payments add a 3.95 percent surcharge
Renewal: Per event
Processing: Application must arrive at least 30 days before the event

City level

7 credentials

City of Atlanta Business Occupational Tax Certificate

Required of a catering business operating inside Atlanta city limits, including one working from a shared commissary in the city, and obtained at the kitchen address. The tax runs on gross receipts and headcount, not a flat fee, and the certificate must be posted at the business. Note that the SAVE and E-Verify affidavits have to be current-year documents, since prior-year affidavits are rejected.

Issued by: City of Atlanta Department of Finance, Office of Revenue
Fee: A $191 annual registration for the 2026 tax year (up from $75), plus a flat $50 tax on the first $10,000 of Georgia gross receipts, a class-based rate above that, $25 per employee after the first, and a $50 zoning review on a new application
Renewal: Annual; renew by February 15 or face a $500 penalty
Processing: Filed through the ATLBIZ portal

City of Atlanta Retail Alcohol License (On-Premise Consumption)

Only if you serve alcohol. This is the first rung of Atlanta's local alcohol ladder for a caterer: you must hold this retail license, tied to your base kitchen address, before you can add the off-premise catering endorsement under O.C.G.A. 3-11. Expect an alcohol-certified distance survey, a floor plan, an NPU form, federal clearance letters, and a License Review Board hearing.

Issued by: Atlanta Police Department, License and Permit Unit
Fee: $5,000 a year for beer, wine, and mixed drinks (prorated to $2,500 if you first apply after July 1), plus a $300 non-refundable application filing fee and a $20 per-person fingerprint fee
Renewal: Annual; expires December 31
Processing: Allow up to 6 months, since it runs through a background investigation, an NPU notification and meeting, a License Review Board hearing, and Mayor's Office approval that alone can take 60 days

City of Atlanta Off-Premise Alcoholic Beverage Catering License

Only if you serve alcohol. Under O.C.G.A. 3-11-2, a caterer that already holds the City of Atlanta retail alcohol license adds this off-premise endorsement to serve, at authorized catered functions, the same alcohol types its retail license covers. Holding both is what makes the business a licensed alcoholic beverage caterer, and each event still needs its own per-event permit.

Issued by: Atlanta Police Department, License and Permit Unit
Fee: An annual fee set locally under O.C.G.A. 3-11-2(e), capped at $5,000 per licensed location; the specific Atlanta amount is not in the published fee table, so confirm it with the APD License and Permit Unit at 404-546-4470
Renewal: Annual
Processing: Applied through the same ATLBIZ portal as the retail license; confirm lead time with APD

City of Atlanta Special Events Alcohol Permit (Per-Event)

Only if alcohol is served at an outdoor special event inside Atlanta. It is the per-occasion authorization for a specific event and sits separately from the off-premise catering endorsement. An outdoor event over 75 attendees also needs an Outdoor Festival application to the Mayor's Office of Special Events, and a Saturday or Sunday event adds delivery and storage licenses. Every server must be at least 21.

Issued by: Atlanta Police Department, License and Permit Unit
Fee: $50 processing and background fee plus a $20 fingerprint fee, plus the permit itself at $100 for a for-profit applicant or $25 for a nonprofit
Renewal: Per event
Processing: Submit at least 20 days ahead; the License Review Board meets twice monthly and Mayor's Office approval can take up to 60 days, so allow 90 days for a large event

City of Atlanta Commercial Building Permit and Certificate of Occupancy (Own Kitchen Build-Out)

Only if you build out or significantly renovate your own catering kitchen. It covers new construction, tenant improvements, changes of occupancy, and structural work, and the Certificate of Occupancy is required before you cook for hire. Plans route through the Office of Buildings, Atlanta Fire Rescue, and Watershed Management together. A caterer renting an already built-out, CO-issued commissary needs neither its own building permit nor a new CO.

Issued by: City of Atlanta, Office of Buildings (Department of City Planning)
Fee: A $150 minimum permit fee plus a $25 technology fee, then roughly $7 per $1,000 of construction value above that, with a Certificate of Occupancy at $100 per story; trade permits are filed and priced separately
Renewal: One-time per project; the Certificate of Occupancy stands until the use changes
Processing: Commercial tenant-improvement review is commonly 4 to 8 weeks with one resubmittal, filed through the Accela portal

City of Atlanta Grease Management Permit (FOG, Own Kitchen Build-Out)

Only if you build out your own kitchen. Every food service facility discharging to the Atlanta sewer installs an approved grease interceptor sized under Atlanta Code 154-297.03 and keeps pump-out records for at least 3 years, pumping before grease and solids reach 25 percent of the trap capacity. A caterer renting a licensed commissary inherits its existing grease permit and interceptor, so no separate FOG permit is needed.

Issued by: City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management, Grease Management Program
Fee: $300 a year for a kitchen with 1 to 5 grease traps, the usual tier for a single catering kitchen, scaling up in $300 steps as trap count rises
Renewal: Annual
Processing: The grease trap plan must be approved before the plumbing permit issues

Atlanta Fire Rescue Fire Safety Inspection and Systems Plan Review (Own Kitchen Build-Out)

Only if you build out your own kitchen. Atlanta Fire Rescue enforces the state fire standards, NFPA codes, and Atlanta Code Chapter 78 for a commercial kitchen, which means a UL-listed wet-chemical hood suppression system over the cooking line, a Class K extinguisher, fuel shutoffs, and compliant egress. A caterer renting an already-approved commissary is covered by that kitchen's existing systems and Certificate of Occupancy.

Issued by: Atlanta Fire Rescue Department, Office of the Fire Marshal
Fee: Fire plan review and inspection fees are folded into the Office of Buildings permit process; a separate AFRD schedule is not published, so confirm with the Office of the Fire Marshal at 404-546-7000
Renewal: One-time for the initial Certificate of Occupancy; hood suppression systems are inspected semiannually under NFPA 17A
Processing: AFRD review runs concurrently with the building permit; the pre-opening fire inspection precedes the Certificate of Occupancy

See how other caterers in Atlanta are managing every permit, license, and renewal in one place with CredentiAlert.

Atlanta-specific things to watch for

1The county line decides which health department permits your base kitchen. Most of Atlanta is in Fulton County, but the eastern sliver, including parts of Kirkwood and East Atlanta, is in DeKalb. The two run different fee schedules and even different expiration dates: Fulton ties to your issuance anniversary while every DeKalb permit expires June 30. Check your kitchen address against the county line before you apply.

2Renting a licensed commissary erases most local build-out cost. A caterer working from a shared, already-approved commissary needs no city building permit, Certificate of Occupancy, grease permit, or fire inspection. But you still pull your own Fulton or DeKalb food service permit at that address, since the permit is not transferable, plus the Atlanta occupational tax and any alcohol credentials. Get the commissary agreement in writing for the health inspector.

3Private events ride your base permit; public events do not. Cooking for a client's guests under a catering contract runs on your annual county food service permit with nothing extra. The moment you sell to walk-up customers at a festival, fair, or public market, you need a county temporary food service permit in the county where that event sits.

4The local alcohol sequence is strict and slow. Atlanta makes you get the APD retail alcohol license first, then the off-premise catering endorsement, then a per-event permit for each event, in that order. The retail license alone can take up to 6 months because of the License Review Board hearing and Mayor's Office approval, so a caterer who wants to pour has to start months ahead of the first event.

5The shared Fulton and DeKalb fee figures come from dated or unposted schedules. Fulton's published schedule and DeKalb's permit fees both need a phone confirmation before you budget, since Fulton's is a few years old and DeKalb keeps its schedule with the clerk of the board rather than online. Call FCBOH at 770-520-7500 or DeKalb Public Health at 404-508-7900 for current numbers.

How long does it take?

From a signed commissary agreement to your first legal catered event, plan on about 8 to 12 weeks, driven mostly by the county food service permit and its pre-opening inspection. Building out your own kitchen is the long pole at 4 to 6 months, with 4 to 8 weeks of city building permit review, 6 weeks or more of county plan review, construction, and the fire inspection before your Certificate of Occupancy. Serving alcohol runs on its own 4 to 6 month track through the APD retail license, so start it early and expect 6 to 9 months to a first alcohol-permitted event.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a catering kitchen permit cost in Atlanta?

It depends on the county and risk level. Fulton County charges roughly $450 to $750 a year for the food service establishment permit by risk type, with a full-cooking catering kitchen usually at the top tier, plus a matching plan review before opening. DeKalb County runs about $240 to $250 a year with a $300 to $500 plan review. You also budget the City of Atlanta occupational tax ($191 registration plus a gross-receipts tax). Confirm current county amounts by phone, since the schedules are dated.

Do you need a commissary to cater in Atlanta?

You need a permitted commercial kitchen, but not necessarily a shared commissary. A home kitchen is never acceptable under Georgia and county rules. Many Atlanta caterers rent time in a shared commissary as their permitted base, which is legal and common, but you still obtain your own Fulton or DeKalb food service permit at that address; you cannot operate under the commissary owner's permit. Building out your own kitchen instead adds city building, grease, and fire permits.

How long does it take to get an Atlanta catering alcohol license?

Plan on 4 to 6 months for the City of Atlanta retail alcohol license, then more time for the off-premise catering endorsement on top. The retail process runs through an APD background check, a Neighborhood Planning Unit meeting, a posted public notice, a License Review Board hearing, and Mayor's Office approval that can take 60 days. Start well before your first alcohol event, and remember each event also needs its own per-event permit.

If I cater a private party in Atlanta, do I need a temporary food permit?

Generally no. Catering a private contracted function, where you serve the client's guests, runs under your annual Fulton or DeKalb food service permit with no temporary permit. The temporary food service permit is triggered when you sell food directly to the general public at a festival, market, or public event. When an event blurs the line, confirm whether it counts as public with the county health department before you set up.

Official sources

Last verified 2026-07-11. Requirements change. Always confirm with the issuing department before applying.