Licenses and permits to open a coffee shop in Rockville

Opening a coffee shop in Rockville takes 8 filings with 6 agencies, starting with the LLC formation (Articles of Organization) and ending with the Montgomery County food service facility license. The fixed government fees add up to about $100, 5 fees are set by the space or the business and 2 filings are free. Build-out, insurance and adviser costs are on top.

Updated October 21, 20268 filingsSources: the agencies' own sitesSources checked October 21, 2026

Fees and timelines at a glance

A coffee shop that prepares drinks or food on site is a food service business, licensed and inspected like a restaurant. The same filings as restaurants.

Filing	Agency	Government fee	How long
LLC formation (Articles of Organization)	Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT)	$100	Standard review takes 6 to 8 weeks.
Application for Employer Identification Number (EIN)	Internal Revenue Service	Free	Fax: about 4 business days. Mail: about 4 to 5 weeks. Phone: issued on the call.
Maryland sales and use tax, withholding and unemployment insurance registration	Comptroller of Maryland, Central Registration	Free	Not listed
Certified food service manager	Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services	Varies	Not listed
Food service plan review	Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, Licensure & Regulatory Services	Varies	Not listed
Commercial occupancy permit	City of Rockville Inspection Services	Varies	Not listed
Building permit for the build-out	City of Rockville Inspection Services	Varies	Not listed
Montgomery County food service facility license	Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, Licensure & Regulatory Services	Varies	Not listed

LLC formation (Articles of Organization)

Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT)Maryland

File online in Maryland Business Express, or mail the signed Articles with a $100 check to SDAT's Charter Division in Baltimore. The resident agent signs too.

Fee
$100
Filed
Filed online
Takes
Standard review takes 6 to 8 weeks.

File on the agency's site How to fill it
Application for Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Internal Revenue ServiceUS federal

Owners with an SSN or ITIN apply online. A company whose responsible party has neither (most China-based owners) faxes or mails Form SS-4, or calls the IRS international line.

Fee
Free
Filed
Paper form, faxed or mailed
Takes
Fax: about 4 business days. Mail: about 4 to 5 weeks. Phone: issued on the call.

File on the agency's site How to fill it
Maryland sales and use tax, withholding and unemployment insurance registration

Comptroller of Maryland, Central RegistrationMaryland

One application opens the sales and use tax license, employer withholding and the unemployment insurance account: online, by fax (410-260-7908) or by mail to Central Registration in Annapolis.

Fee
Free
Filed
Filed online

File on the agency's site How to fill it
Certified food service manager

Montgomery County Department of Health and Human ServicesMOCO

The facility must be under the immediate control of a Certified Food Service Manager, licensed by the county.

Fee
Varies
Filed
Filed online

File on the agency's site How to fill it
Food service plan review

Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, Licensure & Regulatory ServicesMOCO

Health and Human Services reviews the plans of any place that sells or prepares food before a building permit issues. The plans go in with the building permit to the office for the address: the county's Department of Permitting Services (restaurant interior alteration permit), or the City of Rockville's or Gaithersburg's own permitting office.

Fee
Varies
Filed
Filed on the agency's portal

File on the agency's site How to fill it
Commercial occupancy permit

City of Rockville Inspection ServicesRockville

A commercial tenant applies through MGO Connect; the city inspects before the permit issues.

Fee
Varies
Filed
Filed on the agency's portal

File on the agency's site How to fill it
Building permit for the build-out

City of Rockville Inspection ServicesRockville

Apply through MGO Connect before construction; most permits need inspections before the work is final.

Fee
Varies
Filed
Filed on the agency's portal

File on the agency's site How to fill it
Montgomery County food service facility license

Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, Licensure & Regulatory ServicesMOCO

A license is needed before opening: apply and pay on the county's CivicGov portal, or mail or fax the application to Licensure & Regulatory Services in Wheaton. The county answers in 10 to 14 business days and mails the license.

Fee
Varies
Filed
Paper form, mailed

File on the agency's site How to fill it

Questions and answers

How much do the permits cost to open a coffee shop in Rockville?

The fixed government fees add up to about $100, 5 fees are set by the space or the business and 2 filings are free. The largest fixed fee is the LLC formation (Articles of Organization), at $100. Build-out, insurance and adviser costs are on top.

How long do the permits take for a coffee shop in Rockville?

The times the agencies give. LLC formation (Articles of Organization): Standard review takes 6 to 8 weeks. Application for Employer Identification Number (EIN): Fax: about 4 business days. Mail: about 4 to 5 weeks. Phone: issued on the call.

Which agencies issue the permits for a coffee shop in Rockville?

The 8 filings go to 6 agencies: Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT), Internal Revenue Service, Comptroller of Maryland, Central Registration, Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, Licensure & Regulatory Services and City of Rockville Inspection Services.

What is the first filing to open a coffee shop in Rockville?

The LLC formation (Articles of Organization), with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT). File online in Maryland Business Express, or mail the signed Articles with a $100 check to SDAT's Charter Division in Baltimore. The resident agent signs too.

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<div class="placetta-checklist"><p><strong>Licenses and permits to open a coffee shop in Rockville</strong></p><ol><li>LLC formation (Articles of Organization) (Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT))</li><li>Application for Employer Identification Number (EIN) (Internal Revenue Service)</li><li>Maryland sales and use tax, withholding and unemployment insurance registration (Comptroller of Maryland, Central Registration)</li><li>Certified food service manager (Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services)</li><li>Food service plan review (Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, Licensure &amp; Regulatory Services)</li><li>Commercial occupancy permit (City of Rockville Inspection Services)</li><li>Building permit for the build-out (City of Rockville Inspection Services)</li><li>Montgomery County food service facility license (Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, Licensure &amp; Regulatory Services)</li></ol><p>Source: <a href="https://www.placetta.com/guides/rockville/coffee-shop.html">Placetta license guide</a></p></div>

Questions people ask

Other businesses in Rockville

Every filing links to the agency's own page, and every fact comes from an official form or agency page. Agency requirements change; check the agency's page before you file. How we source and check these guides

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