Restaurant permits in Atlanta, Georgia

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

Local feesLocal fees, the county food permit and plan review, the city occupational tax registration, fire inspection, grease permit, building permit base, and zoning letter, commonly run about $1,500 to $3,000 before construction, with a full liquor-by-the-drink license adding roughly $5,000 a year on top.CountyFulton and DeKalb counties

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

All Georgia requirementsRestaurants in Georgia Federal requirementsEvery restaurant nationwide

What you need to run a restaurant in Atlanta

Credential	Level	Fee	Renewal
Fulton County Food Service Establishment Permit (Restaurant)	County	$450 to $750 a year by risk type (I, II, or III), with $100 to $150 added per extra bar or satellite kitchen in the same building	Annual
Fulton County New Facility Plan Review (Food Service)	County	Matches the annual permit by risk type: $450 (Type I), $600 (Type II), or $750 (Type III), charged once per project	One-time, with a new fee for major remodels or HACCP and variance reviews
DeKalb County Food Service Establishment Permit (Restaurant)	County	$250 to $800 a year, set by category (No Cook, Cook-Serve, or Complex) crossed with a points score and whether the space tops 2,000 square feet; a full-menu sit-down restaurant usually lands in the Cook-Serve or Complex range, commonly $500 to $800	Annual
DeKalb County Food Service Plan Review	County	$300 (No Cook, Category 1), $350 (Cook-Serve, Category 2), or $500 (Complex, Category 3), charged once	One-time, with minor plan changes after the first free resubmittal costing $200
City of Atlanta Business Occupational Tax Certificate	City	A $191 new-business 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 under Atlanta Code Section 30-62, a $75 administrative fee, $25 per employee after the first, and a one-time $50 zoning review	Annual; renew by February 15 with payment due April 1
Atlanta Fire Rescue Existing Occupancy Inspection and Operational Permit	City	Atlanta Code Section 78-57 sets an existing-occupancy inspection fee for a space up to 3,000 square feet plus a $25 processing fee per request; published code versions disagree, showing $50 in some and $200 in others, so confirm the current amount with AFRD Community Risk Reduction at 404-546-7000	Periodic, on the AFRD inspection cycle
Atlanta Fire Rescue Plan Review (Suppression, Hood, Assembly)	City	Based on square footage under the AFRD plan review fee table, with a $50 minimum for any unlisted activity and $50 per plan consultation	One-time per project
City of Atlanta Building Permit, Tenant Improvement, and Certificate of Occupancy	City	$7.00 per $1,000 of construction valuation with a $150 minimum permit fee and a $25 technology fee, plus plan review running roughly half the permit fee on top	One-time per project; a lapsed permit expires and its fees are forfeited
City of Atlanta Food Service Wastewater Discharge (Grease and FOG) Permit	City	$300 a year for 1 to 5 grease traps, the bracket nearly every single-location restaurant falls into, scaling in $300 steps up to $3,600 a year for 56 to 60 traps under Atlanta Code Section 154-297.01; a failed inspection adds a $100 per-trap re-inspection fee	Annual
City of Atlanta Local Alcohol License (Retail Consumption on Premises)	City	$5,000 a year for beer, wine, and liquor by the drink, prorated to $2,500 if you apply after July 1, plus a $300 non-refundable application filing fee and a $20 per-person fingerprint fee	Annual; the license year ends December 31 and renewal season opens October 1
City of Atlanta Right-of-Way Sidewalk Dining Permit	City	Set under Atlanta Code Chapter 138, Article VII, historically on a sliding scale tied to the size of the outdoor seating area; confirm the current application and 12-month permit fees with ATLDOT at ROWDining@AtlantaGA.gov	Annual, conditional on having seating in the public right-of-way
City of Atlanta Zoning Verification Letter	City	$100 for a standard Zoning Verification Letter or $300 for a Non-Conforming Zoning Verification Letter, per Atlanta Ordinance 11-O-1290	One-time per request

A typical restaurant in Atlanta, Georgia needs 26 separate credentials to operate legally, and that is for one location. Federal, statewide, and local Atlanta requirements all stack on the same restaurant, each with its own renewal date, fee, and issuing agency.

Do you trust a spreadsheet and a calendar reminder for each permit?

Track every renewal automatically

Each restaurant credential in Atlanta, explained

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

County level

4 credentials

Fulton County Food Service Establishment Permit (Restaurant)

For a restaurant whose building sits in the Fulton County portion of Atlanta, this is the county-issued instance of the state food service permit you cannot open without. The county assigns a risk type from how complex your menu and cooking are, and the annual fee climbs with it. The posted fee schedule took effect April 1, 2022, so confirm current amounts with the Fulton County Board of Health at 770-520-7500.

Issued by: Fulton County Board of Health, Environmental Health Services
Fee: $450 to $750 a year by risk type (I, II, or III), with $100 to $150 added per extra bar or satellite kitchen in the same building
Renewal: Annual
Processing: The permit issues only after you pass the pre-opening inspection; plan review and build-out typically run several weeks to a few months ahead of that

Fulton County New Facility Plan Review (Food Service)

Fulton County reviews your kitchen plans before you build out a new restaurant. You submit the layout, equipment specifications, and menu, and approval is a prerequisite to the food service permit. Reviews of changes to an existing facility run $200 to $350 separately.

Issued by: Fulton County Board of Health, Environmental Health Services
Fee: Matches the annual permit by risk type: $450 (Type I), $600 (Type II), or $750 (Type III), charged once per project
Renewal: One-time, with a new fee for major remodels or HACCP and variance reviews
Processing: Confirm current review turnaround with Fulton County Environmental Health

DeKalb County Food Service Establishment Permit (Restaurant)

For a restaurant on the DeKalb side of Atlanta, including parts of Kirkwood and East Atlanta, DeKalb Public Health issues the food service permit instead of Fulton. The fee is driven by your menu category and a points score rather than a flat number. These amounts come from the DeKalb Public Health fee schedule effective January 1, 2024.

Issued by: DeKalb Public Health, Division of Environmental Health
Fee: $250 to $800 a year, set by category (No Cook, Cook-Serve, or Complex) crossed with a points score and whether the space tops 2,000 square feet; a full-menu sit-down restaurant usually lands in the Cook-Serve or Complex range, commonly $500 to $800
Renewal: Annual
Processing: Issued after the permitting inspection, which requires Fire Marshal approval or a Certificate of Occupancy first

DeKalb County Food Service Plan Review

DeKalb Public Health reviews your plans before a new or renovated kitchen can be built out. You turn in floor plans, the menu, and an equipment list with the fee. Like its annual permit, DeKalb plan review prices below the Fulton equivalent.

Issued by: DeKalb Public Health, Division of Environmental Health
Fee: $300 (No Cook, Category 1), $350 (Cook-Serve, Category 2), or $500 (Complex, Category 3), charged once
Renewal: One-time, with minor plan changes after the first free resubmittal costing $200
Processing: Submit at least 30 days before construction or a change of ownership

City level

8 credentials

City of Atlanta Business Occupational Tax Certificate

Every restaurant operating inside Atlanta city limits carries this, whichever county the building sits in. It is the city's general business license, but the charge is built mostly on Georgia gross receipts, headcount, and your NAICS tax class rather than a flat fee, so a busy restaurant owes well more than the registration line. Missing the February 15 renewal triggers a $500 late fee.

Issued by: City of Atlanta Department of Finance, Office of Revenue
Fee: A $191 new-business 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 under Atlanta Code Section 30-62, a $75 administrative fee, $25 per employee after the first, and a one-time $50 zoning review
Renewal: Annual; renew by February 15 with payment due April 1
Processing: Filed online through the ATLBIZ portal; confirm current processing time with the Office of Revenue

Atlanta Fire Rescue Existing Occupancy Inspection and Operational Permit

Atlanta Fire Rescue inspects every restaurant for life-safety compliance and can require separate operational permits for items like a kitchen hood suppression system, an assembly occupancy classification, or LP gas storage. A $200 re-inspection fee applies when a cited violation is not corrected in time.

Issued by: Atlanta Fire Rescue Department, Office of the Fire Marshal
Fee: Atlanta Code Section 78-57 sets an existing-occupancy inspection fee for a space up to 3,000 square feet plus a $25 processing fee per request; published code versions disagree, showing $50 in some and $200 in others, so confirm the current amount with AFRD Community Risk Reduction at 404-546-7000
Renewal: Periodic, on the AFRD inspection cycle
Processing: Inspection requested online; based on the result, a separate operational permit may be issued

Atlanta Fire Rescue Plan Review (Suppression, Hood, Assembly)

Construction documents for a new restaurant, including the kitchen hood suppression system and any fire alarm or sprinkler work, must clear Atlanta Fire Rescue before the building permit issues, per Atlanta Code Section 78-57. Schedule it alongside your building submittal so the two reviews move together.

Issued by: Atlanta Fire Rescue Department, Office of the Fire Marshal
Fee: Based on square footage under the AFRD plan review fee table, with a $50 minimum for any unlisted activity and $50 per plan consultation
Renewal: One-time per project
Processing: Runs concurrently with the City of Atlanta building permit review

City of Atlanta Building Permit, Tenant Improvement, and Certificate of Occupancy

Any tenant build-out, kitchen construction, or change of occupancy needs a building permit, and you must hold a Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Completion before you open the doors. Converting a non-restaurant space can pull in added construction, accessibility, or exit upgrades. As of June 25, 2025, projects that may affect trees also require an Arborist Meeting before submission.

Issued by: City of Atlanta Department of City Planning, Office of Buildings
Fee: $7.00 per $1,000 of construction valuation with a $150 minimum permit fee and a $25 technology fee, plus plan review running roughly half the permit fee on top
Renewal: One-time per project; a lapsed permit expires and its fees are forfeited
Processing: Light commercial build-outs commonly see first review in about 1 to 3 weeks and full approval in 4 to 8 weeks depending on scope and resubmittals

City of Atlanta Food Service Wastewater Discharge (Grease and FOG) Permit

Required of every food service establishment discharging into Atlanta's sewer system. New construction generally needs two 1,500-gallon traps plumbed in series, 3,000 gallons total, though a single 1,500-gallon trap can be approved for seating of 100 or fewer or where the site is too tight. Plan the sizing early, because it gates both the plumbing permit and the business license.

Issued by: City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management, Grease Management Program
Fee: $300 a year for 1 to 5 grease traps, the bracket nearly every single-location restaurant falls into, scaling in $300 steps up to $3,600 a year for 56 to 60 traps under Atlanta Code Section 154-297.01; a failed inspection adds a $100 per-trap re-inspection fee
Renewal: Annual
Processing: The grease trap plan and plumbing permit must be approved first, and this discharge permit must be in hand before the city issues your business license

City of Atlanta Local Alcohol License (Retail Consumption on Premises)

This is the local half of Georgia two-tier alcohol system, and the state Retail Consumption Dealer license cannot issue until you hold it. A restaurant relying on the distance-requirement exemption under Atlanta Code Section 10-88(e) has to file an annual CPA-certified statement showing at least 50 percent of food and beverage sales came from prepared meals to keep that exemption. Only needed if you serve alcohol.

Issued by: Atlanta Police Department, License and Permit Unit
Fee: $5,000 a year for beer, wine, and liquor by the drink, prorated to $2,500 if you apply after July 1, plus a $300 non-refundable application filing fee and a $20 per-person fingerprint fee
Renewal: Annual; the license year ends December 31 and renewal season opens October 1
Processing: A multi-step path: zoning verification, distance survey, NPU vote, a public hearing notice posted 15 days ahead, a License Review Board hearing, then final Mayor's Office approval, so budget at least 60 to 90 days and often more

City of Atlanta Right-of-Way Sidewalk Dining Permit

Only needed when a restaurant puts tables on the public sidewalk or an on-street parking lane in front of its storefront. Outdoor dining on your own private lot does not use this permit; it goes through a separate zoning and building review instead.

Issued by: Atlanta Department of Transportation (ATLDOT)
Fee: Set under Atlanta Code Chapter 138, Article VII, historically on a sliding scale tied to the size of the outdoor seating area; confirm the current application and 12-month permit fees with ATLDOT at ROWDining@AtlantaGA.gov
Renewal: Annual, conditional on having seating in the public right-of-way
Processing: Confirm with ATLDOT; you submit a to-scale site plan, insurance documentation, and proof of at least 5 feet of pedestrian clearance

City of Atlanta Zoning Verification Letter

Official confirmation of a property zoning district and any overlays, used to verify a space is approved for restaurant use before you sign a lease or file for permits. A lighter zoning sign-off also happens automatically inside the Occupational Tax Certificate application, but the formal letter is the one to pull before committing to a location.

Issued by: City of Atlanta Department of City Planning, Office of Zoning and Development
Fee: $100 for a standard Zoning Verification Letter or $300 for a Non-Conforming Zoning Verification Letter, per Atlanta Ordinance 11-O-1290
Renewal: One-time per request
Processing: 7 to 10 business days for a standard letter, or 10 to 15 business days plus a property inspection for a non-conforming use letter

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

Atlanta-specific things to watch for

1The county line runs through the city. Most of Atlanta is in Fulton County, but parts of Kirkwood and East Atlanta sit in DeKalb. Which health department issues your food permit, and which fee schedule applies, depends entirely on which side of that line your building address falls, not where your customers come from.

2The occupational tax is gross-receipts based, not a flat license fee. It has four moving parts, a flat tax, a class-based rate, a $75 administrative fee, and a per-employee charge, plus a one-time $50 zoning review, which catches owners who budgeted for one simple annual number.

3Alcohol goes local before state, through a hearing. You cannot get the Georgia Retail Consumption Dealer license until the Atlanta Police License and Permit Unit approves your local license, and that runs through an NPU vote and a public hearing rather than a desk review. Restaurants also have to keep prepared-meal sales at 50 percent or more to hold the distance exemption.

4Grease interceptor sizing is strict on new builds. The default is two 1,500-gallon traps plumbed in series, 3,000 gallons total, unless you qualify for a single-trap exception, and the permit and re-inspection fees scale by the number of traps rather than restaurant size. The discharge permit also has to be in hand before the city issues your business license.

5Even the fire inspection fee is unclear in the code. Different published versions of Atlanta Code Section 78-57 show $50 in some and $200 in others for the same up-to-3,000-square-foot tier, so call AFRD Community Risk Reduction to confirm the current number before you budget.

How long does it take?

A typical Atlanta tenant build-out restaurant runs about 4 to 8 months from signed lease to opening day. The City building permit review takes 4 to 12 weeks and runs alongside the county health plan review and the Atlanta Fire Rescue plan review, then construction and final health, fire, and building inspections gate your Certificate of Occupancy. Alcohol moves on its own 60 to 90 day-plus track and cannot close until zoning, fire, and health have signed off, so start it as early as you can.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a restaurant health permit in Atlanta?

It depends on the county. In Fulton County the annual food service permit runs $450 to $750 by risk type, with a one-time plan review at the same $450 to $750. In DeKalb County the annual permit runs $250 to $800 by category, points, and square footage, with plan review at $300 to $500. Which one applies comes down to where your building physically sits.

How do you get a liquor license for a restaurant in Atlanta?

Start local. You secure the Atlanta Police License and Permit Unit alcohol license first, $5,000 a year for beer, wine, and liquor, which moves through zoning verification, a distance survey, an NPU vote, a posted public notice, and a License Review Board hearing before the Mayor's Office signs off. Only once that local license is approved can you apply for the state Retail Consumption Dealer license from the Georgia Department of Revenue.

Do I need a separate permit for outdoor restaurant seating in Atlanta?

Only if the seating sits in the public right-of-way, meaning the sidewalk or an on-street parking lane, in which case you need a Right-of-Way Dining Permit from the Atlanta Department of Transportation. Outdoor seating on your own private lot instead goes through a zoning and building review rather than this permit.

How much does a grease trap permit cost in Atlanta?

The Department of Watershed Management charges $300 a year for a restaurant with 1 to 5 grease traps, the bracket most single locations fall into, scaling up in $300 steps for each additional five traps. New construction usually has to install two 1,500-gallon traps in series unless it qualifies for a single-trap exception.

Official sources

Last verified 2026-06-30. Requirements change. Always confirm with the issuing department before applying.