Restaurant permits and licenses, by state
Opening a restaurant means health licenses, a plan review before you build, and liquor permits if you pour. Here is every credential you need, broken down by state and city.
These federal credentials apply to every restaurant in the United States. State, county, and city requirements stack on top of them. Pick your state below to see what your state adds, then drill into your city for the local permits.
Federal requirements for restaurants
These apply nationwide, so they are the same in every state. Your state and local guides below cover everything that stacks on top.
Federal level
1 credential
Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN)
A nine-digit federal tax ID for your business. Required for businesses with employees, partnerships, and corporations to file payroll taxes and open bank accounts.
- Issued by
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
- Fee
- $0 (free)
- Renewal
- None (one-time)
- Processing
- Immediate online
Select a state
Each state guide covers the statewide credentials every restaurant needs, plus city-by-city specifics for the cities we cover.
Run a restaurant across more than one city?
Every jurisdiction has its own renewal calendar. CredentiAlert tracks them all in one dashboard so nothing slips.