Who needs a food establishment permit in Massachusetts?
Issued by Your local board of health, under the state sanitary code (105 CMR 590.000), at step 4 of 6 in the opening sequence: get the permits for your kind of business.
Submit the plan review with the menu, floor plan and equipment list to the board of health before building out or converting a space, pass the pre-opening inspection, then post the permit. Restaurants, bars, coffee shops, bakeries and ice cream shops are all food establishments under the code. Boston issues the permit through Inspectional Services after the certificate of occupancy and the fire inspection.
Checked Oct 21, 2026 against the agency’s page.
Step 4 of 6: Get the permits for your kind of business
1Set up the business
2Register for tax
3Approve the space
4Get the permits for your kind of business
5Alcohol permits
6Before the first hire
Issued by Your local board of health, under the state sanitary code (105 CMR 590.000).
Sources and dates
105 CMR 590.000 (Minimum Sanitation Standards for Food Establishments, adopting the FDA Food Code); municipal board of health permit pages (Milford, Kingston, Provincetown). Checked against the agency’s page on the date shown; cities add their own fees.
Questions about opening here.
Yes. Submit the plan review with the menu, floor plan and equipment list to the board of health before building out or converting a space, pass the pre-opening inspection, then post the permit.
Yes. Submit the plan review with the menu, floor plan and equipment list to the board of health before building out or converting a space, pass the pre-opening inspection, then post the permit.
Yes. Submit the plan review with the menu, floor plan and equipment list to the board of health before building out or converting a space, pass the pre-opening inspection, then post the permit.
Yes. Submit the plan review with the menu, floor plan and equipment list to the board of health before building out or converting a space, pass the pre-opening inspection, then post the permit.
Yes. Submit the plan review with the menu, floor plan and equipment list to the board of health before building out or converting a space, pass the pre-opening inspection, then post the permit.
Yes. Submit the plan review with the menu, floor plan and equipment list to the board of health before building out or converting a space, pass the pre-opening inspection, then post the permit.
Yes. Submit the plan review with the menu, floor plan and equipment list to the board of health before building out or converting a space, pass the pre-opening inspection, then post the permit.
Yes. Submit the plan review with the menu, floor plan and equipment list to the board of health before building out or converting a space, pass the pre-opening inspection, then post the permit.
Yes. Submit the plan review with the menu, floor plan and equipment list to the board of health before building out or converting a space, pass the pre-opening inspection, then post the permit.
No. In Massachusetts it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Massachusetts it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Massachusetts it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Massachusetts it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Massachusetts it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Massachusetts it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Massachusetts it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Massachusetts it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Massachusetts it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Massachusetts it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Massachusetts it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
Your local board of health, under the state sanitary code (105 CMR 590.000).
Step 4 of 6, get the permits for your kind of business. The steps before it: set up the business, register for tax and approve the space.
Who needs a food establishment permit in Massachusetts? | DoorWorthy
