Restaurant licenses
in Portland, Oregon
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
The business is a restaurant located in Portland, Oregon, that serves food to customers in person and online, and will employ W-2 staff. It is subject to federal, state, county, and city regulations, including health permits and business tax registrations.
Requirement labels below refer to this setup. Conditional items depend on additional details.
Authorities researched
- City
- City of Portland
Details to confirm before you apply
- What is the expected gross revenue for the restaurant?
- Will the restaurant operate under a name different from its registered legal entity name?
- What type of cooking equipment will be used, and does it require a Type 1 hood?
- Will the restaurant produce more than 250 pounds of food scraps per week?
- What is the anticipated seating capacity of the restaurant?
- Are there any specific zoning restrictions for the chosen location?
- Confirm with the responsible agencies whether additional requirements apply in these areas: State unemployment insurance employer account; New-hire reporting; State wage withholding account; Food-manager certification and presence rules; Business personal-property filing or exemption; Construction permits for the commercial premises. These areas remain unresolved in this guide.
The main licenses and permits
6 of 13- 01Multnomah County Restaurant License (Food Service Facility License)Multnomah County Health Department, Environmental Health (Health Inspections and Licensing) · County
The business is a restaurant with a fixed address in Multnomah County, and all restaurants and food establishments must be licensed and pass health inspections under Oregon law (ORS 624).
RequiredAnnual; license is good for one calendar year and must be renewed by paying the license fee by January 1 each year. - 02Multnomah County Food Handler Card (issued by county for all Oregon food handlers)Multnomah County Environmental Health · County
The restaurant will have W-2 employees who handle food, and Oregon law requires all food handlers to obtain a card within 30 days of hire (OAR 333-175); Multnomah County is the local issuer for Portland.
RequiredCard valid for three years from the date the test was passed; retest within 30 days of expiration. - 03City of Portland Business License Tax & Multnomah County Business Income Tax registration (Revenue Division tax account)City of Portland Revenue Division (joint administration with Multnomah County) · Portland
The restaurant has a physical place of business in Portland where business affairs are regularly conducted, which meets the City's 'doing business' presumption.
RequiredAnnual filing with federal/state returns (generally April 15). Register within 60 days of starting business. - 04Change of Use / Change of Occupancy permitPortland Permitting & Development (PP&D) · Portland
Opening a restaurant in a commercial space is a change of use (and often a change of occupancy classification), which requires a permit even where no alterations are planned; a restaurant seating 50+ becomes Assembly Group A-2.
RequiredOne-time permit (no renewal). - 05Fire safety inspection (biennial) and commercial kitchen fire requirementsPortland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) Fire Marshal's Office / Fire Permit Center · Portland
The restaurant is a commercial building occupancy in Portland; PF&R inspects commercial buildings every two years, and grease-producing cooking requires a Type 1 hood with extinguishing system.
RequiredBiennial inspections; reinspection usually scheduled on or after 40 days after violations. - 06Business entity registration (Oregon Business Registry)Oregon Secretary of State, Corporation Division · Oregon
A restaurant operating as an LLC or corporation in Oregon must register the entity with the Oregon Business Registry before doing business.
RequiredAnnual (file annual reports with the Oregon Business Registry)
This example includes 7 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.
Questions people ask
What city business licenses or registrations should a restaurant in Portland check?
Our research identifies City of Portland Business License Tax & Multnomah County Business Income Tax registration (Revenue Division tax account), issued by City of Portland Revenue Division (joint administration with Multnomah County), as required. The restaurant has a physical place of business in Portland where business affairs are regularly conducted, which meets the City's 'doing business' presumption. 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 Portland?
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 Employer Identification Number (EIN) (Internal Revenue Service (IRS)), then Federal employer obligations (payroll taxes, Form I-9, W-2) (IRS and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (Form I-9)), then Business entity registration (Oregon Business Registry) (Oregon Secretary of State, Corporation Division). 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.