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Restaurant licence applications in Hong Kong
Opening a restaurant, food factory or other licensed food premises means dealing with health, building, fire and ventilation requirements together. We check the premises and plans before you sign, then prepare the application and follow it through.
Why check before you sign
A licence application has to deal with the premises' use, plans, hygiene, building, fire safety and ventilation requirements together. In 2022, FEHD handled 3,740 licence applications and brought 4,013 prosecutions for operating without a licence. Checking before you sign the lease shows up problems with the use, means of escape, toilets, drainage or equipment early.
Which licence do you need?
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) describes the main licences like this:
- General Restaurant Licence
- Any kind of cooking method, to prepare and sell food for consumption on the premises.
- Light Refreshment Restaurant Licence
- Simple cooking methods such as boiling, stewing, steaming, braising and simple frying. Deep frying and stir frying are not allowed.
- Food Factory Licence
- Preparing food for sale for consumption off the premises, such as takeaway shops and central kitchens.
- Factory Canteen Licence
- Selling or supplying meals in a factory building.
- Bakery Licence
- Baking bread and other bakery products for sale.
Moving from a light refreshment licence to a general restaurant licence is a new application, not an upgrade. The existing licence has to be cancelled, and the kitchen and ventilation often need to be redone. If you may want to stir-fry or deep-fry later, it is usually better to apply for a general restaurant licence from the start.
How the application works
- Apply to FEHD on form FEHB 94 with three copies of the layout plans.
- FEHD screens the plans. Plans that fail are returned within 10 working days.
- The application goes to the Buildings Department, the Fire Services Department and the Planning Department for comments.
- FEHD arranges an Application Vetting Panel meeting within 20 working days, and issues the letters of requirements at or before it.
- You carry out the fitting-out works needed to meet the requirements.
- A provisional licence can be issued within 1 working day once the essential health, building and fire safety requirements are met. It is valid for six months.
- For the full licence, FEHD inspects within 8 working days of your notice of compliance, and approves within 7 working days of confirming it.
The premises must be free of unauthorised building works, apart from the limited types FEHD allows. An Authorized Person or Registered Structural Engineer certifies this on the prescribed forms. If you plan to sell "restricted food" such as sashimi or oysters, tell FEHD when you apply; the permission can be processed with the licence and endorsed on it free of charge.
What we do
- Before you sign the lease: check the permitted use, floor area, floor level, means of escape, toilets, drainage, power, fuel, ventilation and fire safety.
- Prepare the application documents and layout plans.
- Coordinate the Authorized Person, Registered Structural Engineer, fire services and ventilation contractors.
- Follow the application through the departments and the inspections to the full licence.
Fees
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| General Restaurant Licence (under 1,000 sq ft) | HK$40,000 |
| Light Refreshment Restaurant Licence (under 1,000 sq ft) | HK$35,000 |
| Food Factory Licence (under 500 sq ft) | HK$25,000 |
| Factory Canteen Licence (under 1,000 sq ft) | HK$40,000 |
| Bakery Licence (under 500 sq ft) | HK$25,000 |
| Liquor Licence (under 1,000 sq ft) | HK$8,000 |
Consultancy fees for reference. Final fees depend on the works, the premises and the professionals needed. Government fees are separate.
Common questions
What do I need to prepare for a general restaurant licence?
Send us the lease or the address you plan to rent, a floor plan, the expected number of seats, the kitchen equipment, the cooking fuel and the ventilation details. We first check whether the use, means of escape, toilets, food rooms, fire safety and building records fit, then set the order of the application.
How is the fee for a light refreshment restaurant licence worked out?
It depends on the floor area, the equipment and cooking methods, whether plans need changing, any ventilation or fire services works, and which professionals are needed. With a floor plan and an equipment list we can confirm the scope and quote.
What should I check before renewing a restaurant licence?
Check the licence conditions, the expiry date, the approved plans, the fire certificates and the ventilation system inspection records, and whether the layout or equipment on site has changed. Sort out anything that does not match before renewing.
How can I tell if a shop can be licensed before I sign the lease?
Before signing, check the approved use, floor area, floor level, means of escape, toilets, drainage, power supply, fuel, ventilation and fire safety. Send us the agent's floor plan, site photos and how you plan to operate, and we can give a first assessment.