What licenses and permits are required to open a restaurant in South Carolina?

Opening a restaurant in South Carolina involves several steps for licensing, permits, and registration. These include registering your business, administering corporate filings, obtaining a general business license, and applying for a Retail Food Establishment permit. Depending on the nature of your restaurant, you may also need to check with the Department of Consumer Affairs and the Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation (LLR) for additional licensing and regulation requirements.

1. Business Opportunity Registration

• Purpose: This is required by South Carolina law before placing advertisements or making representations to prospective customers.
• How to Register: You can find more information on the Register a Business Opportunity section on the South Carolina Government’s website.

2. Corporate Filings

• Purpose: This is necessary for your business entity, which could be a corporation, nonprofit corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership, or limited liability partnership.
• How to Register: The Secretary of State’s Office handles these filings. You can find the necessary forms for business filings, corporations, LLCs, LLPs, and charitable organizations in the Secretary of State Downloadable Paper Forms section on the South Carolina Government’s website.

3. General Business License

• Purpose: This is required for new businesses in South Carolina.
• How to Register: The SC Business One-Stop resource guide provides information on the licenses, permits, and registrations required for new businesses in South Carolina. You can find this in the General Business Licenses section on the South Carolina Government’s website.

4. Retail Food Establishment Permit

• Purpose: This is required to open a restaurant in South Carolina.
• Estimated Cost: The initial permit fee is $100. In addition to the initial permit fee, you will also need to pay an annual inspection fee. The amount of this fee is based on the anticipated gross sales of food and food products at the time the application is submitted. The total fee will never be less than $200 and must be paid prior to the issuance of the permit.
• How to Register: To file an application, you need to download and complete the Application & Permit Document (DHEC 1769) and email it to your local Public Health Food Safety Office. Once your application has been received, office personnel will contact you to confirm receipt of your application and discuss payment options for fees. You can find the application form on the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control website.

5. Certificate of Existence / Good Standing

• Purpose: This may be required depending on the nature of your restaurant.
• How to Register: This can be obtained from the Secretary of State's Office.

For more information, you can visit the following links:

• South Carolina Business Licenses, Permits, and Registration
• South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) - Retail Food Establishment Permit
• South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) - Retail Food Establishment Application (DHEC 1769)
• South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) - Permit Central
• South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) - Retail Food Establishment Fees

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