Opening a Convenience Store in Florida: Licenses & Permits

Florida's licensing has one rule that shapes the building more than any other: liquor can't be sold on a convenience store's sales floor. If you want to sell spirits, you need a separate package store, licensed under a quota, with no opening into the main store. Below is who issues what, and how each rule shapes the store you design.

Licenses and permits at a glance

Fuel tanks: DEP and the county

Florida's storage tank program, run by the Department of Environmental Protection under Chapter 62-761 F.A.C.:

• Registration: for a new facility, the registration form is due to DEP at least 30 days before installation, on DEP Form 62-761.900(2) or through the DEP Business Portal.
• County notice: the county must receive written notice 30 to 45 days before installation, plus a confirmation 48 to 72 hours before work starts.
• Placard: no motor fuel may be put into a tank that must be registered unless a valid registration placard is displayed.
• Operators: each in-service UST facility designates Class A, B and C operators. Class A and B operators take a DEP-registered course, and Class B trains Class C on emergency response.
• Cleanup: the Inland Protection Trust Fund (s. 376.3071, Florida Statutes) funds petroleum contamination cleanup.

Alcohol: beer and wine yes, spirits separately

Florida's DBPR Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco licenses alcohol sales. Beer and wine package licenses have no cap on their number. Off-premises beer is licensed under s. 563.02, with a matching provision for wine.

Spirits work differently:

• Quota license: spirits need a quota package store license (s. 565.02), limited to one per 7,500 county residents (s. 561.20). Because the number is capped, licenses are scarce.
• Separate store: a package store must be devoted to alcohol plus a short list of allowed items, and have no opening giving direct access to any other building or room (s. 565.04). In practice that means a separate liquor store with its own entrance.
• Local hours: counties and cities set alcohol sale hours.

Tobacco and nicotine

Florida requires two separate permits from DBPR for each place of business:

• Retail tobacco products dealer permit (s. 569.003).
• Retail nicotine products dealer permit (s. 569.32).

Since 2025, the Attorney General's Nicotine Dispensing Device Directory has been public (s. 569.311). Devices that aren't on it become contraband after a short sell-off period, so check the directory before you stock a product.

Food service: FDACS, not DBPR

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Division of Food Safety permits grocery and convenience stores. DBPR's Division of Hotels and Restaurants licenses restaurants, but a place permitted by FDACS is excluded from DBPR's restaurant definition (s. 509.013). So a convenience store with prepared food normally gets an FDACS food permit. Its category depends on how much food it prepares, from hot dogs and prepackaged pizza up to cooked entrees, chicken, sandwiches and salads.

FDACS plan review is optional, checked against its minimum construction standards. A pre-opening inspection and water and sewer documentation are required before the permit is issued (s. 500.12). Local building departments still review the construction plans.

Sales tax, fuel pumps and lottery

• Sales tax: register with the Florida Department of Revenue. Registered dealers receive an annual resale certificate.
• Fuel pumps: FDACS inspects all retail fuel measuring devices (s. 525.07). Since January 1, 2022, pump owners must use at least two anti-skimmer security measures on each dispenser. Businesses that install or repair pumps must register with FDACS. A 2025 law (s. 525.19) directs FDACS to create an annual petroleum registration program, so check with FDACS whether it applies to your station.
• Lottery: contact the nearest Florida Lottery district office for a site visit, then apply through the sales representative.

What this means for your store design

• Decide on a liquor store before you draw the building. Spirits need a separate room with its own exterior entrance and no internal opening. If you plan one, it shapes the footprint, the storefront and the parking layout. See convenience store sizes.
• Beer and wine go in the main store. Plan the cooler wall or a beer cave for them.
• Match the kitchen to the FDACS permit category. The menu sets the permit category, and both set the equipment, sinks and hood. Using FDACS plan review is optional, but it can catch problems before construction. See food service build-outs.
• Specify anti-skimmer measures on every dispenser. Build at least two into the fuel equipment spec.

Local approvals

Your city or county also controls zoning, building permits, fire inspections, signs and alcohol sale hours. Our construction checklist covers the local steps.

For Florida store design, see convenience store design in Florida and walk-in cooler services in Florida.

Sources

• Florida Department of Environmental Protection, storage tank rules, forms and operator training; Chapter 62-761 F.A.C.
• Florida Statutes, sections 376.3071, 500.12, 509.013, 525.07, 525.19, 561.20, 563.02, 565.02, 565.04, 569.003, 569.311 and 569.32.
• Florida DBPR, Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco FAQs, and Division of Hotels and Restaurants jurisdiction page.
• Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, food establishments and retail food establishment permit.
• Florida Department of Revenue, annual resale certificate.
• Florida Lottery, retailer information.

This page summarizes official sources as of October 2026. It is not legal advice. Fees and rules change, so confirm each one with the agency before you apply.