Restaurant permits — New York

What permits do I need to open a restaurant in New York?

The stack below is the state framework: the food permit, who issues it, whether plan review stands in front of your build-out, and the certificate layer for your team. Where New York hands a number to your county, the page says so and names the office — that honesty is the product.

The New York stack

ItemDetail
Food service establishment permitIssued at county level. Fee: Set by the issuing office — No state fee — permits are issued by county health departments and, in New York City, by NYC DOHMH; each sets its own fee..
Plan reviewRequired before build-out — drawings first, construction second.
Certificate of occupancyCertificate of occupancy / certificate of use from the local building department is usually required before the food permit is issued; confirm zoning allows a restaurant use first.
Fire & signsFire inspection, fire-suppression (hood/Ansul) sign-off, and sign permits are separate and issued locally by the fire marshal and city/county — never part of the state food permit.
Grease / wastewaterGrease interceptor/trap sizing and approval is local (building/plumbing or wastewater); many cities also require a FOG (fats, oils, grease) permit and service records.

The opening sequence

Submit plans for plan review if new or remodeled → apply for the food establishment permit/license → pass pre-opening inspection → receive permit before opening

Certificates in New York

Food handler cards: no statewide mandate; local rules can still apply.

Certified Food Protection Manager: required — A certified supervisor must be present — NYC Food Protection Certificate for the person in charge; county rules vary outside NYC. Accredited exam cost runs $36–$175. Outside NYC there is no single statewide CFPM exam rule; county health departments set supervisor requirements.

Don't read the table — run your verdict. This stack, ordered for your format and space — plus the Cert Checker for your exact team.

Open the Permit Stack Checker

The paperwork, filled in for you

Included in the $49 Opening Pack: the filled templates, trackers, calendars and worksheets for this door — built from the same dated datasets as the free checker above.

See the $49 Opening Pack

Common questions

How much is a food permit in New York?

The fee is set by the issuing office in New York — No state fee — permits are issued by county health departments and, in New York City, by NYC DOHMH; each sets its own fee. Anyone quoting you a single statewide number is guessing.

Who issues the food permit in New York?

At county level — the Food service establishment permit comes from there, and that office runs your pre-opening inspection.

Sources: FoodHandlerGear New York guide (compiled). This row was compiled from the named sources; confirm final figures with the issuing office before you rely on them.. Dataset checked October 23, 2026. Where a fee or rule is set by a county or city, this page says so instead of guessing a number.