Licenses and permits to open a grocery store in Washington, DC
Selling packaged food adds food rules on top of a store's usual registrations. Here are the 7 filings, in the order they're made.
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.
Corporate registration and basic business license
DC Department of Licensing and Consumer ProtectionWashington, DC
Register the company, then get the basic business license for the activity.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed online
- Takes
- DLCP doesn't publish how long a Basic Business License takes; you need a processed FR-500 tax registration and a Clean Hands check before you can apply.
DC tax registration
DC Office of Tax and RevenueWashington, DC
Register with the Office of Tax and Revenue on the FR-500. Every basic business license applicant must be registered and in good standing, and the license application checks the tax number for Clean Hands.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed online
- Takes
- The Office of Tax and Revenue may take up to 10 business days to process a new registration.
DC certified food protection manager card
DC HealthWashington, DC
A manager who passed a nationally recognized food safety exam applies for DC Health's ID card with a copy of the certificate, in person at 899 North Capitol Street NE or by mail. DLCP asks for the DC Health food manager's certificate with the food license, and a certified manager has to be on duty whenever the place is open.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Paper form, mailed
- Renews
- Valid 3 years from the exam date.
Unemployment insurance employer registration
DC Department of Employment Services, UI Tax DivisionWashington, DC
Any business with employees working in DC registers online in the Employer Self-Service Portal, which also takes the wage reports and tax payments.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed online
Certificate of Occupancy
DC Department of BuildingsWashington, DC
Needed when a new owner or tenant takes over a space, even with the same use, and when the space is used for something new; a new use also needs building permits and final inspections. Applied for online in Certifi.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed on the agency's portal
Food services business license
DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, with DC HealthWashington, DC
The basic business license for restaurants, delis, caterers and other food businesses. Apply online in BOSS with the Certificate of Occupancy, the DC Health food manager's certificate, the approved DC Health inspection report, tax registration and Clean Hands, and corporate registration if you have one; pick only the category the business was approved for.
- Fee
- $99
- Filed
- Filed online
- Takes
- DLCP doesn't publish a processing time; apply once DC Health has approved the inspection.
- Renews
- Every 2 or 4 years, as chosen.
More on opening in Washington, DC
Questions people ask
Other businesses in Washington, DC
Agency requirements change. Check each agency's page before you file.
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Get the plan for your grocery store in Washington, DC
This guide covers the city. Your exact address decides the county, the health district and the zoning. Placetta maps every filing for it, fills the official forms from your details, adds the deadlines and puts them up for your approval.
- The full list for your address, in filing order
- The official forms, filled line by line
- Renewal and inspection reminders