By document

Permit types, explained

The same permit goes by different names in different places. Each page here is the canonical explainer, listing the local names that mean the same thing.

Food service establishment permitA public health permit required before any business prepares, handles or serves food to the public. Issued locally, renewed annually in most jurisdictions, and usually conditional on a plan review and a pre-opening inspection.Public health
Certificate of occupancyA building department document certifying that a space is legally usable for a stated purpose. It is a prerequisite for most other permits, which is why it sits first in almost every opening sequence.Building and zoning
General business licenceA general licence to trade in a jurisdiction, usually issued by a city or county clerk and often tied to a gross receipts filing rather than a flat fee.General registration
Fire inspection certificateConfirmation that a premises has passed fire inspection. Usually annual, usually required to be displayed on site, and commonly the record operators forget until an inspector asks for it.Life safety
Sign permitAuthorisation for exterior signage, typically charged per sign face and assessed against local size, illumination and setback rules.Building and zoning
Sales and use tax permitState registration to collect and remit sales tax. Usually free, usually with no expiry, and required before the first taxable sale rather than after it.Tax registration