Restaurant Permits & Licenses in Mount Pleasant, SC

Required for LLCs formed outside SC to operate in the state. Domestic SC LLCs file Articles of Organization instead ($110 fee). Renewal via annual report.

All LLCs must file annually to maintain good standing.

Required if restaurant operates under a trade name/DBA. Expires after 5 years; renew $10.

Required for all businesses selling tangible goods at retail, including restaurants selling prepared food.

All restaurants must register to collect/remit 6% state sales tax + local add-ons (avg. 2%). File monthly/quarterly.

Required for all food service establishments. Plan review ($300+) required pre-opening. Inspections mandatory.

Covers sanitation standards for food service.

Separate licenses for liquor (e.g., BI-01 $5,000+ in urban areas). Location approval required. Fees vary by county.

Restaurants must collect and remit sales tax on all taxable sales. South Carolina state sales tax rate is 6%. Local municipalities may add additional local sales tax. Registration is done via the South Carolina Business One Stop portal.

Required for all employers paying wages to employees in SC. Employers must withhold state income tax from employee wages. Registration is completed through the SC Business One Stop portal.

Employers must pay state unemployment insurance (SUI) tax. New employers pay a standard rate of 2.7% on first $8,000 of employee wages annually. Registration is done online via SC DEW Employer Account.

All LLCs in South Carolina must file an Annual Report and pay the $135 Corporate License Fee by April 15 each year. This is not a tax on income but a privilege tax for doing business in SC.

Most cities and counties in SC require a local business license or privilege tax. Examples: City of Columbia Business License, Charleston County Business Tax. Fees and requirements vary. Check with local clerk or finance office. Municode provides access to municipal codes.

Restaurant sales are generally taxable at 6% state rate. Some localities add local option sales tax (up to 3%). Filing frequency determined by DOR based on monthly tax liability. Filed via SC Business Tax Portal.

Some coastal and tourist-heavy counties impose additional hospitality or tourism taxes on food, lodging, and entertainment. For example, Horry County imposes a 2% Hospitality Tax on restaurant sales in certain zones. Verify with local tax office.

All restaurants must pass health inspections and maintain compliance with SC Food Code. Permits are issued by local county health departments. Renewal requires inspection and fee payment.

All SC counties require a business license for restaurants. Fees based on gross revenue or employees. Contact specific county treasurer for exact fee schedule (e.g., Richland County: https://www.richlandcountysc.gov/Departments/Treasurer/Business-License).

Required in all SC municipalities for operating a restaurant. Must apply through city hall or finance dept. Specific cities like Columbia: https://www.columbiasc.gov/business-licenses/; Greenville: https://www.greenvillesc.gov/598/Business-Licenses. Fees scale with revenue.

Restaurants must comply with local zoning ordinances for commercial food service use. Obtain Certificate of Zoning Compliance. Example: Charleston Zoning: https://www.charleston-sc.gov/156/Zoning; Richland County: https://www.richlandcountysc.gov/Departments/Planning/Zoning. Verify property zoning district allows restaurants.

Required for restaurant kitchen installs, expansions. Example: Greenville Building Permits: https://www.greenvillesc.gov/611/Building-Permits; Columbia: https://www.columbiasc.gov/building-permits/. Follow International Building Code as adopted locally.

A surety bond of $1,000 to $10,000 (based on license type) is required for all retail liquor license applicants in South Carolina. This is a license bond guaranteeing compliance with state alcohol laws. Required under S.C. Code § 61-4-410 and administered by SCDOR.

Not legally mandated by South Carolina. However, restaurants are strongly advised to carry product liability coverage as part of general liability insurance due to risks associated with foodborne illness or contamination. No state-level requirement exists.

All exterior signs require permit per local sign ordinance. Restrictions on size, lighting, placement. Columbia example: https://www.columbiasc.gov/sign-permits/.

Mandatory for all restaurants. Plan review required pre-opening: https://scdhec.gov/health-regulation/food-safety/food-service-plan-review. Local DHEC offices handle inspections (e.g., Charleston: https://scdhec.gov/health-regulation/regional-offices/lowcountry).

Required for kitchen suppression systems, exits, occupancy load. Local fire dept conducts. Example: Columbia Fire: https://www.columbiasc.gov/fire-marshal.

Verifies code compliance. Issued after building, fire, health inspections pass.

Commercial cooking requires Type I hoods with suppression: https://llr.sc.gov/fire/commercial-cooking.aspx.

Must meet minimum parking per zoning code. Traffic study may be required for high-volume sites.

Restaurants with patios/music must comply with local decibel limits (typically 65dB daytime).

Required in 100-year floodplain. Check Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs).

Mandatory for all employers with four or more employees in South Carolina (S.C. Code § 42-1-10). Sole proprietors and partners are exempt unless they elect coverage. Restaurants with fewer than four employees are not legally required but may choose to carry coverage.

Not legally required by South Carolina state law, but strongly recommended for restaurants due to risks of customer injury, property damage, or slip-and-fall claims. Often required by landlords or lenders as a condition of leasing or financing.

Required for any vehicle registered under the LLC or used for business purposes (e.g., food delivery, supply transport). Minimum liability coverage: $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident, $25,000 property damage (S.C. Code § 56-9-910).

Not a direct insurance mandate, but the South Carolina Department of Revenue requires proof of liquor liability coverage (often $1 million per incident) as a condition of issuing or renewing a retail liquor license (S.C. Code Regs. 117-1020). Applies only to restaurants with alcohol service.

SCDHEC conducts routine, unannounced health inspections of restaurants. Frequency depends on risk level: low-risk facilities inspected annually, higher-risk facilities may be inspected up to four times per year. Inspection results are publicly available.

Restaurants are classified as Assembly Occupancies and are subject to periodic fire safety inspections to ensure compliance with the South Carolina Fire Code. Inspections include review of exits, fire extinguishers, suppression systems (e.g., hood systems), and flammable storage.

Employers must file Form 941 (quarterly) to report federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare withholding. Form 940 (annually) reports Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA). Employers without employees are not required to file these forms.

Not required by South Carolina law for restaurants. More relevant for consultants or licensed professionals. Restaurants generally do not need E&O insurance unless offering advisory services (e.g., catering planning).

Not always mandated at the state level, but often required by local health departments (e.g., Charleston, Columbia, Greenville) as part of food service establishment permits. Covers cleanup costs and third-party claims from spills or contamination.

All LLCs with employees or those required to file certain tax forms (e.g., Form 940 for FUTA) must obtain an EIN. Single-member LLCs without employees may use the owner's SSN, but obtaining an EIN is recommended for liability separation.

LLCs are pass-through entities unless electing corporate taxation. Owners must pay self-employment taxes via Schedule SE and file Form 1040 with Schedule C. Multi-member LLCs file Form 1065.

Requires maintaining a safe workplace, including hazard communication (e.g., chemical safety), emergency exits, and injury reporting. Restaurants must comply with 29 CFR 1910 standards, including bloodborne pathogens (for first aid), fire safety, and kitchen equipment safety.

Requires accessible entrances, restrooms, seating, and menus. New construction or alterations must meet ADA Standards for Accessible Design. Existing facilities must remove barriers when readily achievable.

Must comply with Clean Water Act (wastewater discharge), Clean Air Act (refrigerant handling under Section 608), and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (hazardous waste disposal). Most small restaurants are exempt from RCRA hazardous waste generator status if waste is minimal, but proper disposal is still required.

Prohibits deceptive advertising (e.g., false claims about food sourcing, "organic" labeling, or portion sizes). Requires clear disclosure of pricing (e.g., gratuity charges) and compliance with the Restaurant Advertising Guide. Menu labeling under the FTC’s authority is limited; most food labeling is under FDA.

Requires payment of federal minimum wage ($7.25/hour), overtime (1.5x regular rate for hours over 40/week), and proper tip credit compliance (if claiming tip credit, must pay at least $2.13/hour in cash wages and inform employees). Applies to all employees engaged in interstate commerce (broadly interpreted for restaurants).

Employers must withhold state income tax from employee wages and file Form SC SD-100. Filing frequency is determined by the amount withheld. New employers typically start as monthly filers.

Employers must file Form UI-3/40 each quarter and pay unemployment insurance tax. New employers pay a standard rate of 0.05% for the first four years. Rate varies based on experience rating.

All employers must display OSHA Form 2203 (Job Safety and Health Protection) in a conspicuous location accessible to employees. Available for free download from OSHA website.

Employers must display the South Carolina Employment Laws Poster, which includes minimum wage, child labor, and unemployment insurance information. Available from DEW website.

Businesses must keep copies of tax returns, employment records, receipts, and other financial documents for a minimum of 3 years. Employment tax records should be kept for at least 4 years. SCDOR recommends keeping business records for at least 4 years.

South Carolina requires at least one manager per food establishment to hold a valid food protection manager certification (e.g., ServSafe, Prometric). Certification must be renewed every 5 years via re-examination or approved continuing education.

Restaurants using cleaning chemicals must maintain a hazard communication program, including Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for all hazardous substances and employee training. SDS must be accessible to employees.

South Carolina law requires employers with four or more employees to carry workers' compensation insurance. Coverage must be continuous. Independent contractors are not counted.

Most South Carolina municipalities require a local business license. Fees and deadlines vary significantly by location (e.g., Charleston, Columbia, Myrtle Beach). Must be renewed annually. Check with local clerk for exact requirements.

Requires eligible employees (worked 1,250 hours in past 12 months, at location with 50+ employees within 75 miles) to be granted up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for qualifying reasons.

Employers must verify identity and work authorization using Form I-9 and acceptable documents. E-Verify is not federally mandated for restaurants unless state law requires it (South Carolina does not require E-Verify for most employers).

FDA issues the Food Code, which is adopted by South Carolina through its Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC). Federal law (Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act) authorizes FDA oversight. Requires safe food handling, storage, labeling, and employee hygiene. Includes requirements for allergen labeling and menu calorie disclosure if applicable.

Requires calorie counts on menus and menu boards, statement about daily calorie needs, and availability of written nutrition information upon request. Exemptions apply for temporary menus or non-standard menu items.

Requires a Federal Basic Permit from TTB under the Federal Alcohol Administration Act. Even if state-licensed, federal permit is required for alcohol service. Restaurants must also comply with labeling and advertising rules for alcoholic beverages.

All LLCs registered in South Carolina must file an annual report with the Secretary of State by April 15 each year. This applies to all LLCs regardless of business type. The report confirms business address, registered agent, and management structure.

All restaurants collecting sales tax must maintain an active Sales Tax License. The license is issued once but requires biennial renewal. No fee is charged for renewal. Automatically renewed if no changes are reported.

Restaurants must obtain and renew a Food Establishment Permit from SCDHEC. Renewal is due on the anniversary date of the original permit. Fees vary based on facility classification (e.g., full-service restaurant vs. limited service).