Renewal guide · Richmond County, Georgia

What a restaurant in Augusta–Richmond County has to renew, and when

A restaurant owner in Augusta is responsible for a pile of recurring paperwork no one ever handed over as a list: a state registration, a city license, a health inspection, a fire inspection and more — each with a different office, a different month and a different late fee. This page is that list for a single-location, sit-down restaurant in Richmond County. Every item shows the office that issues it, what it costs, how often it renews, and the official source we checked on September 21, 2026.

One honest caveat before the list: some Augusta fees are not published anywhere official, and we say so rather than invent a number — those cost lines carry the word “verify” instead of a made-up figure. This page is a checklist, not legal advice.

Annual registration (LLC or corporation)

Office: Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division
Renewal cycle: Every year, on the anniversary of your registration
Cost: $50 online ($30 nonprofit)
Source: sos.ga.gov fee schedulechecked September 21, 2026

Filed at ecorp.sos.ga.gov. Miss it and the state eventually administratively dissolves the entity.

Sales & use tax certificate of registration

Office: Georgia Department of Revenue
Renewal cycle: No renewal — stays in effect while the business and ownership are unchanged
Cost: No fee
Source: dor.georgia.govchecked September 21, 2026

The one item on this page you can stop worrying about — but you do have to file monthly sales tax returns against it.

Food service permit (state food service rules 511-6-1)

Office: Richmond County Environmental Health, under Georgia DPH
Renewal cycle: Permit does not expire on a calendar date; it lapses on a change of holder, location or operation — but the county charges a recurring inspection fee
Cost: County-set — no flat figure published; verify by phone
Source: dph.georgia.gov food servicechecked September 21, 2026

East Central Health District, 706-721-5800. A 2006 county fee schedule showed $100–$350/year tiered by seating; treat that as a historical range only.

Business tax certificate (occupation tax / business license)

Office: Augusta-Richmond County Planning & Development, 535 Telfair St
Renewal cycle: Expires December 31 every year; renew January 1–31
Cost: Based on gross receipts plus a per-employee charge — your bill depends on revenue
Source: Augusta application (official PDF)checked September 21, 2026

The city also wants your gross-revenue affidavit before October 31 each year. 1.5% per month late penalty.

Fire inspection (business license / annual fire inspection)

Office: Augusta Fire Department, Fire Inspection Bureau
Renewal cycle: With license issuance; recurring cycle for an existing restaurant — confirm with the Bureau
Cost: $100 for the business-license inspection; annual fire inspections no charge
Source: Augusta fee schedule, effective March 1, 2026checked September 21, 2026

Bureau: 3117 Deans Bridge Road, 706-821-2909. A second follow-up inspection runs $150, third and later $220.

Alcohol license (only if you serve beer, wine or liquor)

Office: Augusta Planning & Development (local) + Georgia DOR (state)
Renewal cycle: Annual; the city license year begins July 1 and is prorated after that date
Cost: $120 city application fee plus a $250–$325 annual restaurant regulatory fee, plus the state retail fee ($50 beer/wine, $200 package, $100 investigation)
Source: Augusta alcohol applicationchecked September 21, 2026

Two licenses, not one: the city certificate and the state retail license renew separately.

FOG wastewater discharge permit (grease)

Office: Augusta Utilities, under the Sewer Use Ordinance
Renewal cycle: Permit term with renewal; ongoing trap cleaning, manifests and inspections in between
Cost: Set by commission resolution, not published — verify with Augusta Utilities
Source: Augusta Sewer Use Ordinance (PDF)checked September 21, 2026

The fee has to be paid before the permit renews. Your grease hauler’s manifests are part of the record.

Certificate of occupancy

Office: Augusta Fire Department / Planning & Development
Renewal cycle: One-time — good for the life of the building if the occupancy does not change
Cost: $150
Source: Augusta Fire FAQchecked September 21, 2026

On this list because a change of menu concept or layout can trigger a new one.

The short version

January is the heavy month. The city business tax certificate expires December 31 and must be renewed January 1–31 — and the fire inspection rides along with the license.
Two licenses hide in the alcohol pour. If you serve beer or wine, the city and the state each issue their own annual license, on different cycles.
Grease arrives by mail. The grease/FOG permit renews on its own term, and the fee only becomes visible when Augusta Utilities invoices you.
The cheapest item is the easiest to lose. A $50 state annual registration is the one filing whose lapse dissolves your LLC.

Don’t keep this list by hand.

MustRenew builds this checklist for your business type and county, then watches every due date and reminds you at 90, 60, 30, 14 and 3 days. Photograph the certificate on your wall and the expiration date files itself. The list is free — you only pay if you want the tracking.

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Figures on this page are the ones in the official sources linked above, checked September 21, 2026; where a fee is not published, we say so. MustRenew itself is built and run end to end by AI agents on NanoCorp, which is how we can re-check this list and keep it current. Read more about the product or start your own list.