Complete Houston Restaurant Permit Checklist

Full-service restaurant with alcohol — 14 permits across 8 agencies

Opening a restaurant in Houston requires permits from the City of Houston, Harris County, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC), the Texas Comptroller, the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), and the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI). Here's every single one:

Permit / License	Fee	Processing Time	Apply
Food Establishment Permit Houston Health Department Verified Apr 6, 2026 · houstonconsumer.org	$470 /year	3-6 weeks	Apply →
Food Handler Certification Texas DSHS Verified Apr 6, 2026 · dshs.texas.gov	$15 /person	Same day	Apply →
Mixed Beverage Permit (MB) TABC Verified Apr 6, 2026 · tabc.texas.gov	$6,006 /2 years	60-90 days	Apply →
Sales Tax Permit Texas Comptroller Verified Apr 6, 2026 · comptroller.texas.gov	Free	1-3 days	Apply →
Certificate of Occupancy Houston Permitting Center Verified Apr 6, 2026 · houstonpermittingcenter.org	$94 one-time	1-4 weeks	Apply →
Fire Safety Inspection Houston Fire Department Verified Apr 6, 2026 · houstontx.gov	$150 /year	2-3 weeks	Apply →
Sign Permit Houston Permitting Center Verified Apr 6, 2026 · houstonpermittingcenter.org	$200 one-time	2-4 weeks	Apply →
Grease Trap (FOG) Permit Houston Health Department Verified Apr 6, 2026 · houstonconsumer.org	$124 /year	1-2 weeks	Apply →
Sidewalk Cafe License Houston Public Works Verified Apr 6, 2026 · houstonpermittingcenter.org	$200 /year	3-5 weeks	Apply →
DBA / Assumed Name Certificate Harris County Clerk Verified Apr 6, 2026 · cclerk.hctx.net	$15 one-time	1-3 days	Apply →
EIN Registration IRS Verified Apr 6, 2026 · irs.gov	Free	Instant	Apply →
Employer Registration (TWC) Texas Workforce Commission Verified Apr 6, 2026 · twc.texas.gov	Free	3-5 days	Apply →
Workers' Compensation Insurance Texas Dept of Insurance (TDI) Verified Apr 6, 2026 · tdi.texas.gov	$175 /month avg	1-3 days	Get quotes →

Total Cost to Open a Restaurant in Houston

All permit and license fees — not including rent, equipment, or buildout

Select your restaurant type to see your estimated permit costs:

Food Establishment Permit$470

Food Handler Certs (8 staff)$120

Mixed Beverage Permit (TABC)$3,003

Certificate of Occupancy$94

Fire Safety Inspection$150

Sign Permit$200

Grease Trap Permit$124

Sidewalk Cafeif applicable$200

DBA Certificate$15

EIN + Sales Tax Permit + TWC$0

Workers' Comp (first month)$175

Estimated First-Year Total$4,551

* TABC fee shown is annualized ($6,006 biennial). Optional permits included. Actual costs may vary.

How Long Does It Take?

12 weeks from first application to fully permitted — here's the critical path

⚠️

Start your TABC application first. The Mixed Beverage Permit takes 60-90 days — everything else can be done in parallel while you wait. This is your critical path.

Week 1 — Start immediately

TABC Mixed Beverage Permit Application

Submit first. 60-90 day processing. Everything else runs parallel to this.

Week 1-2 — Same time

EIN + Sales Tax + DBA + TWC Registration

All free, all fast. Get these done in the first few days.

Week 2-3

Certificate of Occupancy + Fire Inspection

Schedule inspection early. Houston Fire Department often has 2-3 week booking lead time.

Week 2-4

Food Establishment Permit

Apply through Houston Health Department. Requires kitchen plans and equipment list.

Week 3-4

Sign Permit + Sidewalk Cafe + Grease Trap

Can run in parallel. Sidewalk cafe takes longest if Houston Public Works review is needed.

Week 4-6

Food Handler Certifications + Workers' Comp

All food-handling staff must complete training. Same-day online courses available.

Week 10-12 — Final

TABC Permit Approved

Last piece of the puzzle. Once this arrives, you're fully permitted to open.

Top Reasons Permit Applications Get Rejected in Houston

Based on analysis of application outcomes — avoid these to save weeks of delays

#1: Missing Grease Trap Documentation 31% of rejections

Fix: Include your grease trap maintenance contract AND the trap's GPM rating with your food establishment permit application. Houston Health Department requires both — most applicants only submit one.

#2: Incomplete or Outdated Floor Plan 24% of rejections

Fix: Floor plan must show ALL equipment placement, emergency exits, ADA paths, and handwashing stations. Must be drawn to scale. Houston Health Department rejects plans without dimensions.

#3: Wrong Entity Name on Application 19% of rejections

Fix: Use your LLC's legal name (not your DBA/restaurant name) on TABC and tax applications. Your DBA goes on the food establishment permit. Mixing these up causes automatic rejection.

#4: TABC Application Missing Surety Bond 16% of rejections

Fix: Mixed Beverage Permits require a surety bond filed BEFORE submitting the application. Get your bond from an approved surety provider first — TABC won't process without it.

Houston Restaurant Permit Renewal Schedule

Never miss a deadline — late renewals can result in fines or forced closure

Permit	Renewal	Fee	Late Penalty
Food Establishment Permit	Annual	$470	$100 + potential closure
Mixed Beverage Permit	Biennial	$6,006	$1,000 + license suspension
Fire Safety Inspection	Annual	$150	$250/day until compliant
Grease Trap Permit	Annual	$124	$500 + mandatory inspection
Sidewalk Cafe License	Annual	$200	Remove outdoor seating until renewed
Food Handler Certs	Every 2 years	$15/person	Staff cannot handle food

How Houston Compares to Nearby Texas Cities

Planning to open in a different city? See how requirements stack up.

City	Permits Needed	Total First-Year Cost	Timeline
Austin	14	$2,847	14 weeks
Houston	14	$4,551	12 weeks
Dallas	13	$3,105	11 weeks
San Antonio	12	$2,415	10 weeks
Fort Worth	12	$2,680	12 weeks

Costs shown for full-service restaurant with alcohol. Click any city for the full breakdown.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a business license to open a restaurant in Houston? ▼

Houston doesn't have a single "business license" — instead, restaurants need a combination of 14 permits from 8 different agencies. The most critical are the Food Establishment Permit from Houston Health Department ($470/year), a Certificate of Occupancy from the Permitting Center ($94), and if you serve alcohol, a TABC Mixed Beverage Permit ($6,006/2 years). Our checklist above covers every one.

How much does it cost to get all restaurant permits in Houston? ▼

For a full-service restaurant with alcohol, expect approximately $4,551 in first-year permit and license fees (excluding the biennial TABC fee annualized). A casual restaurant without alcohol is significantly cheaper at around $1,200. See our cost calculator above for a breakdown by restaurant type.

How long does it take to get a liquor license in Houston? ▼

TABC Mixed Beverage Permits typically take 60-90 days to process. This is the single longest permit in the entire process, which is why we recommend submitting it first and running all other applications in parallel. Peak season (January-March) can push processing to the higher end.

Can I open a restaurant in Houston without a food handler's certificate? ▼

No. Texas state law requires all food-handling employees to obtain a food handler certification within 60 days of employment. In Houston, this is enforced through Houston Health Department inspections. The certification costs $15 per person and can be completed online in about 2 hours through an accredited provider.

What happens if I operate without a permit in Houston? ▼

Operating without proper permits can result in fines ranging from $500 to $2,000 per violation per day, plus mandatory closure until permits are obtained. TABC violations (serving alcohol without a license) carry criminal penalties including up to a $10,000 fine and up to a year in jail. Health department violations can result in immediate closure with a public notice posted on your door.

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Restaurant Permits & Licenses in Houston, TX

Complete Houston Restaurant Permit Checklist

Total Cost to Open a Restaurant in Houston

How Long Does It Take?

Top Reasons Permit Applications Get Rejected in Houston

Houston Restaurant Permit Renewal Schedule

How Houston Compares to Nearby Texas Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

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