To run a restaurant or food business in Hong Kong, you must first hold the matching licence from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD). There are 11 types of food licence, and which one applies depends on the shop's size, the kind of food sold and where the premises are; choose the wrong type and the plans, fit-out and application all have to be redone.
We handle every type of restaurant licence, liquor licences, renewals and annual fire inspections. We arrange a site visit within 1 day and, at the site-assessment stage, check the common grounds for refusal such as ventilation volume and means of escape first. Licence consultations are free. Our service fee is about HK$20,000 to HK$40,000, depending on the type of shop.
WS ICON LIMITED · Trust or Company Service Provider licence TC008771 · Updated October 2026
11 types of food licence
- General restaurant licenceThe broadest licence; may cook and sell most kinds of food
- Light refreshment restaurant licenceDine-in allowed; cooking limited to simpler, low-smoke methods
- Factory canteen licenceIn an industrial building, serving only people who work in that building
- Food factory licenceFood prepared for eating off the premises; no dine-in
- Siu mei and lo mei shop licenceRetail sale of roast and marinated meats only, not production
- Bakery licenceBakeries; plain bread only
- Milk factory licenceProcessing milk, reconstituted milk or milk drinks, or bottling milk
- Frozen confection factory licenceMaking ice cream and other frozen desserts
- Liquor licenceIssued by the Liquor Licensing Board, after police vetting
- Fresh provision shop licenceSelling fresh, chilled or frozen meat, fish and poultry
- Licence renewalApply within the 4 months before expiry, after the annual fire and ventilation inspection
By type of shop: suggested size and our fees
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| Type of shop | Suggested size | Licence usually needed | Licence application (our service fee) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Takeaway snack shop (no seating) | 70 sq ft or more | Food factory, frozen confection factory or bakery licence | about HK$20,000 |
| Café and light-meal shop | over 400 sq ft | Light refreshment restaurant licence | about HK$30,000 |
| Restaurant and hot pot | over 800 sq ft | General restaurant licence; a liquor licence as well to sell alcohol | about HK$40,000 |
| Food factory and others | over 300 sq ft | Food factory or frozen confection factory licence | about HK$20,000 |
Approximate service fees for the licence application. Government licence fees and fit-out works are not included. Fit-out budgets by type of shop: Services and fees →
Government fees: general and light refreshment restaurants
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| Licence | Floor area | New full licence / year | Renewal / year |
|---|---|---|---|
| General restaurant | Up to 250 m² | 1,110–3,940 | 2,520–5,650 |
| General restaurant | Over 250, up to 1,000 m² | 5,150–22,190 | 6,860–23,900 |
| General restaurant | Over 1,000 m² | 36,040–123,360 | 37,750–125,840 |
| Light refreshment restaurant | Up to 250 m² | 400–2,360 | 1,810–4,070 |
| Light refreshment restaurant | Over 250, up to 1,000 m² | 3,250–15,410 | 4,960–17,120 |
| Light refreshment restaurant | Over 1,000 m² | 25,310–87,570 | 27,020–90,050 |
All amounts in Hong Kong dollars. These are the government licence fees set by FEHD; each range spans several floor-area bands, and the actual fee follows the band of the premises' floor area. Since 1 November 2025 the fee for a new full licence no longer includes the Fire Services Department's prescribed fees; renewal fees are unchanged. Government fees are charged separately from our service fee.
How we handle an application
- Site visit: a consultant visits the shop within 1 day of your enquiry.
- Site assessment: we first check the building use, shop area, ventilation volume and means-of-escape calculations, the common grounds for refusal, and then confirm which licence to apply for.
- Design and works: plans are drawn to the licensing requirements; fit-out, stainless-steel fittings, ventilation and fire works can be arranged together.
- Application: we prepare the documents and certificates of compliance, submit to FEHD, and follow the approvals of the Fire Services Department, the Buildings Department and other departments.
- Inspection: our consultant attends the government inspection and answers the officers' questions on the spot, through to the issue of the licence.
Our licensing consultancy
Food licences are issued by FEHD, with the Fire Services Department, the Buildings Department and other departments taking part in the approval, and every department’s requirements must be met at once. Our consultants and technical staff know the regulations, the fit-out process and the ventilation and fire standards. We handle general restaurant, light refreshment restaurant and food factory licences, other special permits, renewals and annual fire inspections. We have completed more than 1000 projects; some of the finished shops are on Project cases.
What we cover
- Licence applications: the 11 licence types above, and permits for herbal tea, restricted foods, reheating food and more.
- Works alongside the licence: interior design, stainless-steel fittings and furniture, and materials, run in step with the application.
- One person throughout: from site assessment, design and renovation to the licence application and final inspection, a named person follows the case.
Suggested sizes, fit-out budgets and fees by type of shop are on Services and fees.
Food licence FAQ
Which licence does a restaurant need?
Why assess the site first?
Does your service fee include the government licence fee?
Besides the licence, which certificates are needed?
Can a licence be transferred or its plans amended?
Do I need to form a company before applying?
Other services
Company Registration
We obtain the Certificate of Incorporation (CI) and the Business Registration Certificate (BR).
Company Secretary
Company secretary services for annual returns, company changes and statutory records.
Accounting & Tax
Bookkeeping, financial statements and organised records to support your tax reporting.
Virtual Office
Business and registered addresses, mail handling and optional telephone answering services.
