How to Open a Restaurant in Houston: Complete Permit Checklist (2026)

Opening a restaurant in Houston is a major undertaking, and the permitting process is one of the most confusing parts. You're dealing with four levels of government — federal, state, city, and county — each with their own requirements, forms, fees, and timelines.

This guide gives you the complete permit checklist in the order you should actually tackle them, with real costs and realistic timelines. No fluff, just what you need to know.

The Full Permit List for a Houston Restaurant

Here's everything a restaurant in Houston city limits typically needs, in the order you should complete them:

Phase 1: Business Formation (Weeks 1-3)

Texas LLC — File online at SOSDirect. Pay the extra $25 for expedited processing — it's same-day vs. waiting 10-12 days. Search for name availability first.

EIN — Apply at irs.gov, not a third-party site. It's free and you get your number immediately. Have your LLC name and your SSN ready.

Sales Tax Permit — Texas charges 6.25% state tax plus up to 2% local. Apply online through the Comptroller's website. Your physical permit arrives by mail in 2-3 weeks — you must display it.

Franchise Tax — Set a reminder for May 15 every year. File even if you owe $0 (most new restaurants are under the $2.47M threshold). Missing this gets your LLC dissolved.

Phase 2: Location and Licensing (Weeks 2-12)

Certificate of Occupancy — Before you spend money on build-out, confirm your space is approved for food service. Ask your landlord if there's an existing CO. Apply through the Houston Permitting Center.

TABC Permits (alcohol) — This is the timeline killer. If you want to serve cocktails and liquor, the Mixed Beverage Permit takes 3-6 months. Start this process as soon as you have your LLC, EIN, and sales tax permit. Beer and wine only is significantly faster (30-60 days) and cheaper ($900-$1,800 vs. $5,300-$6,600).

Many restaurant owners plan a 3-month build-out and don't realize the TABC timeline extends beyond that. Some choose to open food-only first and add alcohol service once the permit comes through.

Phase 3: Operational Permits (Weeks 6-14)

Food Dealer's Permit — This is the big one. The Houston Health Department will review your floor plan and equipment layout, then send an inspector. Fees are risk-based: low risk ($258), medium ($515), or high risk ($773). Most full-service restaurants fall in the medium or high category. Call 832-393-5100 for a free pre-inspection consultation — this is invaluable for avoiding surprises.

Food Handler Cards — Every food employee needs one. DSHS-accredited online courses take about 2 hours and cost $7-$15. Get these done before staff starts working.

Certified Food Manager — At least one person per restaurant (usually you or your head chef). Pass the ServSafe exam or equivalent. Cost: $100-$150. Takes 1-2 weeks to study and test.

Fire Department Permit — Your commercial kitchen fire suppression system needs inspection and permitting. Use a vendor familiar with Houston Fire Department requirements.

FOG Registration — Register your grease trap with Public Works. Free, but you need a properly-sized trap installed by a licensed plumber.

Sign Permit — For any permanent signage visible from a public street. $50-$150. Most sign companies handle the permit as part of their service.

Phase 4: Before You Hire (Weeks 8+)

TWC Registration — Register with the Texas Workforce Commission before hiring your first employee. File and pay unemployment tax quarterly.

Property Rendition — Declare your business equipment to Harris County Appraisal District annually by April 15. Free to file, and filing your own values prevents HCAD from overestimating.

Total Cost Summary

Restaurant without alcohol: $840-$1,750 in permit fees. Timeline: 3-4 months.

Restaurant with beer and wine: $1,740-$3,550 in permit fees. Timeline: 3-5 months.

Restaurant with full bar: $6,140-$8,350 in permit fees. Timeline: 4-7 months (driven by TABC).

These are permit fees only. They don't include build-out costs, equipment, inventory, rent, insurance, legal fees, or other startup expenses.

The Realistic Timeline

Here's what an honest restaurant opening timeline looks like in Houston:

Months 1-2: Form LLC, get EIN, apply for sales tax permit. Find and secure your location. Apply for Certificate of Occupancy. Start TABC application immediately if serving alcohol.

Months 2-4: Build-out and renovation. Submit floor plans to Houston Health Department for plan review. Get fire suppression system installed. Start hiring and certifying staff.

Months 4-5: Health department inspection. Fire department inspection. FOG registration. Final CO confirmation if you made changes to the space.

Months 5-7: If waiting on TABC, you may open food-only first and add alcohol when the permit arrives.

Most restaurants take 4-7 months from signing a lease to opening day. If you hear someone say they did it in 6 weeks, they either had an incredibly smooth process, an existing permitted space, or they cut corners.

If Your Location Is Outside Houston City Limits

If your restaurant is in unincorporated Harris County (outside Houston city limits), the key differences are:

• Health permit: Apply to Harris County Public Health instead of Houston Health Department. Fees are the same ($258-$773).
• Fire permit: Harris County Fire Marshal's Office instead of Houston Fire Department.
• No Certificate of Occupancy from the city, though you may still need building permits from the county.
• No FOG registration with Houston Public Works, though the county may have its own grease trap requirements.

Check your exact address on hcad.org to confirm your jurisdiction.

The Five Biggest Mistakes New Restaurant Owners Make

Starting build-out before the CO is confirmed. If the space isn't approved for food service, you may need to redo work or move to a different location.

Underestimating TABC timelines. Plan for 3-6 months for a Mixed Beverage Permit. Don't promise investors or landlords an opening date that doesn't account for this.

Not getting a pre-inspection consultation. The Houston Health Department offers free consultations at 832-393-5100. Use this service — it tells you exactly what they'll look for during your official inspection.

Hiring staff before having food handler certifications ready. Every food employee needs a Food Handler card before they start working with food. Build this into your onboarding process.

Forgetting ongoing compliance. Your food dealer's permit, fire permit, and FOG registration renew annually. The franchise tax report is due every May 15. Food handler cards expire every 2 years. Missing any of these creates problems.

What to Do Next

Every restaurant's permit situation varies based on location (Houston vs. Harris County), alcohol service, number of employees, and other factors. Use our free permit navigator to get a personalized compliance roadmap with every permit, cost, timeline, and step specific to your restaurant.