Who needs a food service facility license in Maryland?

Issued by Your county health department, under the state food code (COMAR 10.15.03 and Health-General Article 21-301 and following), at step 4 of 6 in the opening sequence: get the permits for your kind of business.

9 of the 20 kinds of business in Maryland

Submit the plan review with the menu, the floor plan and the equipment list before building out, then pass the pre-opening inspection; the county ranks the facility high, moderate or low priority by what it prepares, and a HACCP plan is required for moderate and high priority facilities. Restaurants, bars, coffee shops, bakeries and ice cream shops are all food service facilities. The state is adopting the FDA Food Code, which changes plan review and manager rules once it takes effect.

Checked Oct 21, 2026 against the agency’s page.

Step 4 of 6: Get the permits for your kind of business

  1. Set up the business
  2. Register for tax
  3. Approve the space
  4. Get the permits for your kind of business
  5. Alcohol permits
  6. Before the first hire

Issued by Your county health department, under the state food code (COMAR 10.15.03 and Health-General Article 21-301 and following).

Sources and dates

Maryland Department of Health food service facility regulations (COMAR 10.15.03); Baltimore County Department of Health fee schedule; Baltimore City Health Code 6-403. Checked against the agency’s page on the date shown; cities add their own fees.

Questions about opening here.