Restaurant licenses
in Nashville, Tennessee
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 Nashville, Tennessee, that serves food to customers in person and online, employing W-2 staff. It operates in Davidson County and is subject to both state and local licensing requirements. Legal structure is not specified in this example; entity formation applies only if that structure is chosen.
Requirement labels below refer to this setup. Conditional items depend on additional details.
Authorities researched
- State
- Tennessee
- County
- Davidson County
Details to confirm before you apply
- What is the exact fee for the food service establishment permit?
- What are the specific requirements for grease interceptor certification?
- Is there a separate county occupational tax beyond the business tax license?
- What is the processing time for the LLC formation?
- What is the annual report fee for LLCs?
- Does the restaurant's gross receipts cross the $100,000 standard-license threshold?
- Confirm the legal structure before using entity-formation instructions or including entity-specific fees in the startup budget.
- Confirm with the responsible agencies whether additional requirements apply in these areas: Federal employer obligations; Workers' compensation coverage; New-hire reporting; Food-handler training rules; Food-manager certification and presence rules; City business license or tax registration; 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 12- 01Food Service Establishment Permit (Metro Public Health)Metro Public Health Department, Food Protection and Public Facilities Division · County
The business prepares and serves food to customers in person, making it a food service establishment that must be permitted and inspected in Davidson County.
RequiredAnnual - 02Business Tax LicenseTennessee Department of Revenue (registration) with Davidson County/Metro Nashville clerk (license issuance) · Tennessee
Tennessee requires nearly all businesses selling goods or services to register for business tax and hold a business license from the county/municipal clerk.
RequiredAnnual - 03Business Tax License / Minimal Activity License (Davidson County Clerk)Davidson County Clerk (Metro Nashville & Davidson County) · County
The restaurant has a physical commercial location in Davidson County and will have gross receipts, so Tennessee law requires a business tax license or minimal activity license from the county clerk.
RequiredAnnual - 04Commercial Use and Occupancy (U&O) PermitMetro Codes Department (Codes and Building Safety) · County
The restaurant occupies a physical commercial location in Davidson County, and a U&O permit is required for all restaurants even when the previous use was a restaurant.
RequiredOne-time per change of use/occupancy - 05Fire and Life Safety Review / Inspection (Fire Marshal's Office)Nashville Fire Marshal's Office (Metro Nashville Fire Department) · County
The Fire Marshal reviews every commercial property transition in Davidson County during the U&O permitting process to ensure fire safety for the restaurant's occupancy.
RequiredNot applicable for the U&O review - 06Grease Management / FOG Compliance (Metro Water Services)Metro Water Services, Environmental Compliance Division · County
The restaurant prepares food and generates fats, oils, and grease (FOG), which requires grease interceptor/trap management and Metro Water Services signoff during the U&O process.
RequiredNot published
This example includes 6 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 Nashville check?
This guide does not establish whether Nashville requires a stand-alone general business license or registration. Confirm that question with the city, in addition to reviewing the industry permits and registrations below.
How much do licenses and permits cost for a restaurant in Nashville?
About $145 in published fixed fees, plus variable fees. 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 LLC Formation (if applicable) (Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business Services), then Assumed Name / DBA Registration (if applicable) (Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business Services). 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.