Opening a restaurant in West Virginia requires obtaining several licenses and permits. These include registering your business with the Division of Labor, obtaining special licenses or permits through other state agencies, and complying with local and federal regulations. The specific licenses or permits required will depend on the nature of your business activities. Here is a detailed list of the necessary licenses and permits:
1. Vendor’s Registration
- Purpose: This is required for sales to state agencies.
- How to Register: Contact the Department of Administration, Purchasing Division at 304-558- 2311 for more information.
2. Retail Food Stores Permit
- Purpose: This permit is required for restaurants to serve food.
- How to Register: Contact the County Health Departments at 304-558-2981 or your local health department for more information.
3. Septic Tank Construction and Water Well Construction Permits
- Purpose: These permits may be required depending on your restaurant's specific needs.
- How to Register: Contact the County Health Departments at 304-558-2981 for more information.
4. Alcohol Beverage License
- Purpose: If you plan to serve alcohol at your restaurant, you will need this license.
- How to Register: Contact the Department of Revenue’s Alcohol Beverage Control Administration at 304-558-2481 (Toll-Free: 800-642-8208).
5. Public Drinking Water Supply Construction Permit
- Purpose: Depending on your restaurant's location, you may need this permit.
- How to Register: Contact the Bureau for Public Health’s Office of Environmental Health Services at 304-558-2981.
6. Cottage Industry Permit
- Purpose: If you plan to process food at home for your restaurant, you may need this permit.
- How to Register: Contact the Bureau for Public Health’s Office of Environmental Health Services at 304- 558- 2981.
7. Food Service Permit
- Purpose: All food service establishments, including restaurants, are required to have this permit to operate.
- How to Register: Submit the required information to the State Health Department for review. Once the plan approval is granted, your establishment must be inspected and an operational permit issued prior to opening.
Please note that this list may not be exhaustive and additional licenses or permits may be required depending on your specific business activities. It is recommended to consult with a business advisor or the West Virginia Secretary of State Business Division for comprehensive information. Contact: (304)558-8000 or visit their website at wvsos.gov.
For more information, you can visit the following links:
- West Virginia Secretary of State Business Division
- West Virginia Department of Revenue, Alcohol Beverage Control Administration
- Bureau for Public Health, Office of Environmental Health Services
- Cabell-Huntington Health Department
Learn more about local food delivery trends and insights:
About Otter
- Increase revenue up to 10% with Marketing*
- Reduce storefront downtime by up to 50% with Live Alerts*
- Increase sales up to 50% with Digital Dine-In's QR code ordering*
- Reduce missed orders to less than 1% with Order Manager's Auto-Accept feature*
- Supercharge your food business with our all-in-one restaurant POS system*