Restaurant / Occupancy

Opening a physical food business? Get your space cleared to operate.

Combines a Certificate of Occupancy with a food service establishment permit. This one takes longer than our other permits — timelines depend heavily on your specific building.

What's involved

Two approvals, tied to your building

Unlike our mobile and home-based permits, this one depends heavily on the physical space itself.

01
Certificate of Occupancy

Confirms your space meets building, fire, and zoning codes for your intended use.

02
Food Service Establishment Permit

Local health department approval covering kitchen layout, equipment, and food safety standards.

03
Building Inspection

Typically required before either approval is finalized — timing depends on your municipality's inspection schedule.

Process

How it works

1

Tell us about your space

Location, current condition, and planned use.

2

Get your checklist

What your specific building needs for both approvals.

3

We review & file

AI-assisted review checks everything before submission.

4

Track to approval

We follow up through inspections until you're cleared.

Common questions

FAQ

I haven't signed a lease yet — can you help me evaluate a space?

Yes — we can review a potential space's requirements before you commit, so you know what you're taking on before you sign anything.

How long does this usually take?

Longer than our other permits, since it's tied to your building's inspection history and any renovations needed. We'll give you a realistic estimate once we know your space.

Do I need a Food Handler certification too?

Typically yes, for you and/or your staff — we can help with that alongside this permit.

What if the building needs renovations first?

We'll flag what's needed early in the process, so it doesn't stall your timeline later on.

Ready to get your space cleared?

Tell us about your space — we'll send back your exact checklist.

Get my checklist →