Who needs a retail food establishment license (serving meals) in Wisconsin?
Issued by Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), or the local health department in agent jurisdictions such as Milwaukee, Madison and Dane County, at step 4 of 6 in the opening sequence: get the permits for your kind of business.
Restaurant licensing moved from the health department to DATCP in 2016. Submit the floor plan, menu and equipment list for review before building out, pass the pre-licensing inspection, then post the license. Restaurants, bars, coffee shops, bakeries and ice cream shops are all retail food establishments; a tavern selling only packaged snacks falls in the prepackaged category.
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 Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), or the local health department in agent jurisdictions such as Milwaukee, Madison and Dane County.
Sources and dates
DATCP retail food establishments serving meals pages and license fee schedule; ATCP 75.08 (fees); Wis. Stat. 97.30. Checked against the agency’s page on the date shown; cities add their own fees.
Questions about opening here.
Yes. Restaurant licensing moved from the health department to DATCP in 2016.
Yes. Restaurant licensing moved from the health department to DATCP in 2016.
Yes. Restaurant licensing moved from the health department to DATCP in 2016.
Yes. Restaurant licensing moved from the health department to DATCP in 2016.
Yes. Restaurant licensing moved from the health department to DATCP in 2016.
Yes. Restaurant licensing moved from the health department to DATCP in 2016.
Yes. Restaurant licensing moved from the health department to DATCP in 2016.
Yes. Restaurant licensing moved from the health department to DATCP in 2016.
Yes. Restaurant licensing moved from the health department to DATCP in 2016.
No. In Wisconsin it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Wisconsin it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Wisconsin it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Wisconsin it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Wisconsin it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Wisconsin it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Wisconsin it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Wisconsin it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Wisconsin it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Wisconsin it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Wisconsin it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), or the local health department in agent jurisdictions such as Milwaukee, Madison and Dane County.
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 retail food establishment license in Wisconsin?
