Restaurant licenses
in Los Angeles, California
Start with the main licenses and permits below. For a checklist based on your own business, tell us what you’re opening and how it will operate.
Researched Sep 2026
About this example
This business is a brick-and-mortar restaurant in Los Angeles, California, within Los Angeles County, providing in-person and online food service with W-2 employees and no alcohol sales. Operations require compliance across federal employment and tax rules, California state tax and labor registrations, Los Angeles County environmental health oversight, and City of Los Angeles municipal licensing, fire, zoning, and wastewater permits. Confirm state licensing for the restaurant’s specific activities; the seller’s-permit guidance does not establish a blanket state-license exemption. This example assumes premises within City of Los Angeles limits. County municipal approvals for other jurisdictions are excluded; restaurant health oversight still comes from the county. An existing-restaurant purchase may follow a different approval path from new construction or a major remodel. BOI reporting depends on formation country; U.S.-formed entities are exempt.
Requirement labels below refer to this setup. Conditional items depend on additional details.
Authorities researched
- State
- State of California
- County
- County of Los Angeles
Details to confirm before you apply
- What legal entity structure (e.g., LLC, Corporation, Sole Proprietorship, or Partnership) will be used for the restaurant?
- Is the premises actually inside City of Los Angeles limits? This example assumes it is; a postal address is insufficient, and an unincorporated or contract-city site needs a different agency review.
- What is the total interior square footage of the premises and the planned customer seating capacity?
- Does the commercial space already hold a valid Certificate of Occupancy for restaurant use, or will it require a Change of Use and tenant build-out?
- Will you be installing a dedicated commercial grease interceptor (gravity or hydromechanical) and a commercial security alarm system on-site?
- What is the projected date of your first employee payroll run?
- Does California require any additional state business license for the restaurant’s specific activities? Confirm with the responsible state agencies; the seller’s-permit source does not settle a blanket general-license exemption.
- Is this an existing-restaurant purchase without major changes, or will food-preparation areas, equipment or fixtures be constructed or remodeled? Confirm the county health review path before work starts.
- Where was or will the business entity be formed, and if formed under foreign-country law, what U.S. registration and BOI exemptions apply?
- Confirm with the responsible agencies whether additional requirements apply in these areas: City business license or tax registration; Business personal-property filing or exemption. These areas remain unresolved in this guide.
The main licenses and permits
6 of 24- 01Public Health Permit - Retail Food Facility (Restaurant)Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Division · County
The business operates a commercial kitchen and prepares food for public consumption within Los Angeles County.
RequiredAnnual - 02Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) CertificationANSI-Accredited Certification Providers (Enforced by LA County DPH) · County
California Retail Food Code mandates that every facility preparing non-prepackaged potentially hazardous food employ at least one certified manager.
RequiredEvery 5 years - 03California Food Handler CardANSI-Accredited Training Providers (Enforced by LA County DPH) · County
All restaurant employees involved in food preparation, storage, or service must maintain active food handler certification.
RequiredEvery 3 years - 04Verify LADBS Occupancy Approval for Restaurant UseLos Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) · Los Angeles
Confirm that the premises are approved for the planned restaurant use. An existing occupancy record and a project requiring a new certificate follow different steps.
RequiredNone (one-time) - 05LAFD Operational Fire Permit (Commercial Cooking / Public Assemblage)Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) / Office of Finance · Los Angeles
Commercial restaurants operate commercial cooking appliances and ventilation hoods that represent regulated fire hazards.
RequiredAnnual - 06City of Los Angeles Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG) Industrial Wastewater PermitCity of Los Angeles, LA Sanitation & Environment (LASAN), Industrial Waste Management Division · Los Angeles
Under Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 64.30, food service establishments generating kitchen grease must hold an Industrial Wastewater Permit and install an approved grease interceptor.
RequiredOngoing
This example includes 18 other potential requirements. A report based on your business explains which apply, how to file, published fees and timing, and what to complete first.
Make the checklist yours
Your location, activities, and business structure can change the list. Get a free preview for your business, then decide whether to unlock the full report for $49.
Not required for this example
- FDA Food Facility Registration — Food facilities operating in the United States are subject to federal food safety regulations, though retail restaurants are exempt.
- California Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) License — State liquor licenses govern alcohol service, but this restaurant does not sell alcoholic beverages.
- Los Angeles County Business License — This example assumes premises inside the City of Los Angeles. The County Treasurer licenses specified activities only in unincorporated areas and Malibu, Santa Clarita, or Westlake Village; City of Los Angeles premises are outside that program.
- Los Angeles County Zoning Verification / Land Use Approval — County Planning serves unincorporated areas outside cities. For this City of Los Angeles example, use the city planning and zoning process.
Questions people ask
What city business licenses or registrations should a restaurant in Los Angeles check?
Our research identifies City of Los Angeles Business Tax Registration Certificate (BTRC), issued by City of Los Angeles Office of Finance, as required. All businesses operating within the City of Los Angeles must register for local gross-receipts tax and maintain a valid BTRC. Check the other city permits in this guide and confirm the requirements for your premises and activities.
How much do licenses and permits cost for a restaurant in Los Angeles?
Most fees vary by item; see report. Several items have fees that depend on your entity type, square footage, or payroll, so the full report lists each fee as the agency publishes it.
What should I do first?
Review California Business Entity Registration (if applicable) (California Secretary of State (SOS)), then Employer Identification Number (EIN) (Internal Revenue Service (IRS)), then Fictitious Business Name (FBN / DBA) Statement (if applicable) (Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder / County Clerk). Confirm each item's applicability and prerequisites before applying; the report provides a suggested order for the full checklist.
Is this legal advice?
No. It is a research summary of public requirements published by government agencies, each linked to its official page. Confirm with the issuing agency before filing.
Related guides
Researched from official government sources on September 2, 2026 for a typical restaurant. Requirements change and depend on your facts; this page is not legal advice. Confirm with the issuing agency before filing.