Open or Remodel a Restaurant in Hillsborough County
Florida DBPR's Division of Hotels and Restaurants licenses most public food service establishments. Plan review, the state food-service license and opening inspection are separate from local zoning, building, fire, utility, and local business-tax approvals. Confirm the correct local authority from the exact property address.
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Who needs this
A person opening, taking over, converting, or remodeling a public food service establishment in Hillsborough County. Requirements depend on whether the operation is seating, non-seating, mobile, temporary, or regulated by a different state agency.
Steps
- 1
Confirm the food-service license category
Use DBPR's Guide to Permanent Food Service to determine whether the operation is a seating or non-seating establishment and whether it is a new license or change of ownership. Mobile or temporary vending has a different license category and is not fully covered by this fixed-restaurant workflow.
www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/licensing/foods - 2
Determine whether DBPR plan review is required
DBPR requires plan review for a newly built or converted establishment, a remodel, a space closed for more than 18 months, or menu changes requiring different equipment or a change to the overall operational concept. If review is required, DBPR requests a scaled floor plan with equipment labeled and a sample menu.
www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/licensing/plan- - 3
Check local land use and construction approvals
Before leasing or building out, confirm allowed use and local building, site, fire, utility, and any septic/well approvals with the authority responsible for the parcel. DBPR food-service review does not replace local development or fire review.
hcfl.gov/businesses/hillsgovhub - 4
Submit the DBPR plan review and license application
DBPR recommends applying online and combining license and plan review when needed. The agency says plan review applications can expect review within 30 days; incomplete plans or local approvals may add time.
www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/licensing/foods - 5
Obtain County and applicable city business-tax receipts
Apply for the County local business tax receipt and check the city business-tax office if the address is in Tampa, Plant City, or Temple Terrace. Hillsborough County says restaurant operators must provide the approved DBPR inspection report with the County application.
hillstaxfl.gov/taxes/business-tax-services/new-regulated-bus - 6
Complete the state opening inspection before operating
DBPR states all new licensees must pass a sanitation and safety opening inspection before opening. Follow the DBPR plan packet and agency instructions to schedule it.
www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/licensing/foods - 7
Track renewal and current fees
Hillsborough is in DBPR food-service licensing District 3, with an annual renewal date of February 1. Fees depend on classification, seat count, county district, and when the application is made; use the live state and local schedules.
www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/licensing/food-
Requirements
- Obtain the applicable Florida public food-service license before operating.
- Complete DBPR plan review when the establishment meets a plan-review trigger.
- Pass the DBPR sanitation and safety opening inspection before opening.
- Obtain local zoning, building, fire, utility, and business-tax approvals that apply to the property and operation.
- Operations may not be conducted in a private residence under DBPR's permanent food-service guide.
Documents
- Scaled floor plan showing labeled equipment and a sample menu when plan review applies
- Business identity, address, and license classification information
- DBPR approval or inspection documentation required for the County local business-tax application
- Local building, fire, utility, or septic/well documents if required by the project
Fees
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| DBPR plan review | $0 per DBPR fee page accessed 2026-09-24; recheck the live schedule. | |
| New or change-of-ownership DBPR application fee | $50 in addition to the license fee per DBPR fee page accessed 2026-09-24; recheck before filing. | |
| Annual food-service license | Varies by license class, seating, Hillsborough's renewal district, and full/half-year timing. | |
| Local building, fire, and business-tax fees | Separate fees depend on local jurisdiction and project; use the responsible authority's live schedule. |
Good to know
The County Tax Collector directs restaurant and mobile-food operators to provide an approved inspection report from DBPR's Division of Hotels and Restaurants with the County local business-tax application.DBPR food-service review does not decide local zoning, building, fire, utility, or site requirements.If a restaurant uses septic or private well service, resolve the separate Department of Health or Department of Environmental Protection approvals early; DBPR warns that septic capacity may need upgrades.The County Tax Collector says Hillsborough is within DBPR food-service District 3; DBPR lists a February 1 annual renewal date for that district.