Ohio: official links to open a restaurant or bar

1. Alcohol licensing (bar or restaurant serving alcohol)

• Division of Liquor Control (Ohio Department of Commerce) link may be outdated: check the agency site
• OPAL: Ohio Permit & Liquor Licensing (online applications)

From the agency page: Ohio's permit-class page marks the D-class on-premises permits as "subject to quota" and says all applications go through the OPAL online system (the agency notes new applications carry a $100 processing fee). Source: Ohio Division of Liquor Control: Permit class types (read 2026-10-17). Rules change; confirm with the agency.

TTB tags this state as a "Control State" in its directory. Control-state systems vary; many still license bars and restaurants separately, so read the agency page for on-premise rules.

Source: TTB: Alcohol Beverage Authorities (verified 2026-10-17). Some states list tax or enforcement divisions here; start at the authority that issues on-premise retail licenses.

2. Food service licensing, plan review and food code

• Ohio Department of Health: Food safety program link may be outdated: check the agency site

Who issues the permit: Restaurants are generally licensed and inspected by the local health department (health district), not the Ohio Department of Health. Source: ODH: Food safety program (read 2026-10-17). Compare states.

Source: FDA: State Retail and Food Service Codes and Regulations by State (verified 2026-10-17). In many states the county or city health department issues the actual permit; ask the state program who does.

3. State business and tax registration

• IRS: Ohio state government websites for businesses (links to the state's tax, business-registration and employer pages)

Source: IRS: State government websites (verified 2026-10-17).

4. Tipped-employee wage rules (for bar and restaurant staffing)

DOL note: Applies to employers with annual gross receipts of $405,000 or more; smaller employers use $7.25.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees, document revised 2026-07-01, checked 2026-10-19. Local minimums and recent state changes may not be reflected. Confirm with your state labor agency.

Compare with other states: tipped minimum wage by state (all 50 states and D.C.).

State restaurant association

• Ohio Restaurant Association

The National Restaurant Association lists this as the state restaurant association for Ohio. Source: National Restaurant Association, State Restaurant Associations (read 2026-10-18). Associations are private membership groups; this listing is informational and is not an endorsement, referral or recommendation, and membership is not required to get a permit.

Local reminder

Zoning, building, fire and occupancy approvals, local alcohol hearings and sometimes the health permit are handled by your city or county. Owners report that these steps depend on each other and that guidance is hard to find; see the opening roadmap.