Division of Hotels and Restaurants

Public Food Service and Lodging Establishment Licensing

Apply for a License

Who needs a license?

Florida law requires owners of new public food service or lodging establishments, and new owners of existing establishments, to obtain a license from the division before commencing operation. Some general information regarding licensing is available from our forms page. For more information about specific types of licenses, see our Licensing Guides webpage.

Before the division may issue a license, each applicant must complete the following:

1. County and Municipality Requirements: Regulations vary among counties and municipalities, and requirements from both may apply to your business.  Before making any significant financial commitment, such as signing a lease or construction contract, contact the separate Occupational License, Zoning, and Building authorities for your desired location.  Ask each for detailed requirements on opening or transferring ownership of a food or lodging business.  Contact information for these departments is in the “government” section of your local telephone book, or available on the Internet.

2. Sales Tax Registration Number: Obtain a Florida sales tax number or proof of exemption. Contact the Department of Revenue, Sales Tax Division, at 800.352.3671, for further information.

3. Federal Employer Identification Number: Obtain a federal employer identification number (FEIN). Contact the U. S. Internal Revenue Service at 800.829.4933 for a FEIN application.

4. Food Service Only: The operator of each public food service establishment to be newly constructed, remodeled, converted or reopened shall submit properly prepared facility plans and specifications to the division for review and approval in accordance with provisions of law and rule prior to the start of the construction or change. See our plan review webpage for more information.

5. Application Forms: Obtain and complete the appropriate application forms. Each operation requires a separate license.  Therefore, if you intend to serve food inside a lodging facility (such as a hotel), you will need a license for the hotel and a separate license for each food service operation on the premises.

6. License Fees:  License fees are listed on our food service and lodging fee websites. If submitting an application within six months or less of the expiration date, you are required to pay only a half-year fee. If you are applying more than six months prior to the expiration date, the full-year fee must be paid.  All new and transfer applications must include a $50 application fee in addition to the license fees.

To assist you in determining the correct fee, the division has provided license fee calculators for both food service and lodging. These calculators require Microsoft Excel®. To download software to use the calculators, please go to Excel Viewer 2003.

The appropriate license fee must be paid to the division before a license will be issued. Please make checks payable to the Division of Hotels and Restaurants.  For assistance in determining the correct license fee, please contact the department at 850.487.1395.

7. Submit Application and Fees: Send the completed application and fees to:

Division of Hotels and Restaurants
Department of Business and Professional Regulation
1940 North Monroe Street
Tallahassee, Florida  32399-0783

Most applications are processed within a couple of weeks, but please allow 3-6 weeks for processing.

8. Opening Inspection: All new licensees are required to pass a sanitation and safety inspection prior to opening. After meeting all requirements of the plan review and submitting your license application and fees, contact the department at 850.487.1395 to schedule an opening inspection.

9. Alcoholic Beverage Application: If you intend to sell alcoholic beverages, contact your local DBPR, Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, district office for an application. If approved, a DHR inspector will also perform a beverage inspection in conjunction with the opening inspection. Beverage licenses will not be issued to public food service establishments without a passed inspection and a license number assigned by the DHR. Send your completed application for a beverage license and a copy of your passed DBPR inspection form to the ABT district office in your area. Once you have received your beverage license, please provide the number and type of license to your DHR district office as soon as possible.

10. License Renewals: Public food service and lodging establishment licenses must be renewed on an annual basis. The division attempts to remind licensees prior to their license expiring if the mailing address on file is accurate. It is the responsibility of the licensee to forward the renewal notice with the appropriate fee to the division. Operators who do not renew by the expiration date, regardless of receipt of notice, are regarded as operating without a license and subject to administrative actions by the division. Additionally, Florida law allows the division to assess an additional $50 delinquency fee if the license is renewed within 30 days after expiration, and requires the licensee to pay an additional $100 after 30 days.

11. Periodic Inspections: Florida law requires the division to perform a sanitary and safety inspection on every public food service and lodging establishment periodically throughout the year.  See our inspections webpage for more information.