Quick Answer: What Belongs on a New Restaurant Construction Checklist?
A new restaurant checklist covers five phases in order: site and lease, design, permits, construction, and inspections and opening. Before you sign a lease, confirm zoning, grease and hood feasibility, utility capacity and parking. Then lock the kitchen layout with your equipment supplier, submit health department and building permit drawings together, build, and pass health, fire and building inspections for your certificate of occupancy. In Virginia and Maryland the restaurant construction process usually takes 4–9 months from signed lease to opening day. The full 20-step checklist is below.
The restaurant industry is quite challenging, with high overhead costs and thin profit margins. If you are creating a restaurant from the ground up, it is essential to keep costs as low as possible.
When starting a new restaurant venture, many entrepreneurs prefer to build from scratch rather than convert an existing space. Based on this, commercial construction can be quite expensive and out of control without adequate planning.
The 20-Step New Restaurant Construction Checklist
Work through these in order. Each step protects the one after it; skipping a pre-lease check is the most common reason a restaurant opening slips.
| Phase | # | Checklist item | Done? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Site & lease | 1 | Confirm zoning allows restaurant use (and outdoor seating, if planned) | ☐ |
| Site & lease | 2 | Verify a hood exhaust route to the roof or an approved wall location | ☐ |
| Site & lease | 3 | Confirm a grease interceptor location and sewer capacity with the utility | ☐ |
| Site & lease | 4 | Check electrical service and gas capacity against your equipment list | ☐ |
| Site & lease | 5 | Count parking and confirm the occupant load your seat count needs | ☐ |
| Site & lease | 6 | Get the landlord work letter and TI allowance in writing before signing | ☐ |
| Design | 7 | Finalize the menu and equipment list with your kitchen equipment supplier | ☐ |
| Design | 8 | Complete a test fit of kitchen, bar, dining and restrooms together | ☐ |
| Design | 9 | Have MEP engineers size hood, make-up air, plumbing and power | ☐ |
| Design | 10 | Lay out accessible seating, routes and restrooms to the 2010 ADA Standards | ☐ |
| Permits | 11 | Submit health department plan review (menu, equipment, finish schedule) | ☐ |
| Permits | 12 | Submit building, mechanical, plumbing, electrical and fire permits | ☐ |
| Permits | 13 | Order long-lead items: hood, walk-in cooler, rooftop units, switchgear | ☐ |
| Construction | 14 | Demolition and underground plumbing, including floor drains and grease lines | ☐ |
| Construction | 15 | Rough-in inspections for framing, MEP and the hood | ☐ |
| Construction | 16 | Install finishes, kitchen equipment, bar and millwork | ☐ |
| Inspections & opening | 17 | Hood suppression and fire alarm tests with the fire marshal | ☐ |
| Inspections & opening | 18 | Health department pre-opening inspection | ☐ |
| Inspections & opening | 19 | Final building inspection and certificate of occupancy | ☐ |
| Inspections & opening | 20 | Staff training, soft opening and punch list close-out | ☐ |
Average Timeline for Restaurant Construction
Planning and building a brand new restaurant is not an easy task. The whole process is quite complex and can take several months, at the very least. In some instances, a year-long timeline from planning to final construction is realistic, even when working with a leading general contractor and design team.
Before you enter the design phase, there are plenty of things to prepare as part of the pre-construction phase. This checklist will help you cover all the bases when working with the best restaurant contractors and planning your new venture.
Find the Ideal Location
The location can determine if your restaurant will be a success or failure. We cannot stress this enough – never settle for a sub-par location for your restaurant construction. To pick the best location, you need to assess the following aspects:
- What is your target demographic? Look for a neighborhood where your ideal customers congregate.
- Will your restaurant be clearly visible? The area should be clearly visible to traffic as well as pedestrians.
- Will the restaurant have accessible parking spots? If the location is next to a busy street/road, you need to ensure enough parking space to accommodate your patrons.
Also, don’t forget to check the local zoning laws to make sure there are no restrictions on setting up a restaurant business in the locality. Access to vendors and supplies is another major factor to take into account.
Get the Relevant Construction Permits
To get your restaurant construction project off the ground, you will need permission from the local municipal authorities. Apart from business licenses and safety permits, you will also require the approval of the local health department and food safety authorities.
If you don’t have any prior experience in restaurant construction, you should seek the assistance of a general contracting firm that has prior experience in constructing restaurant projects. They can help you navigate getting the right permits.
Finalize Your Restaurant Design
If you want the restaurant construction to begin as soon as possible, opt for a design-build approach. In this approach, you will select a single firm to handle everything from pre-construction to design, compliance, and the actual building process.
It’s a highly efficient model when compared to the design-bid-construction approach. With a single entity handling everything, coordination is easier and the lines of communication and responsibility are clearly outlined.
Corporeal Visions is a leading design and construction company that has been building dental offices, retail spaces, and restaurants across 31 counties in Virginia and Maryland since September 2014. We specialize in the design and construction of everything from small cafes and sports bars to high-end restaurants and commercial kitchen projects.
Our experienced design teams work closely with you to finalize the blueprints of your dream restaurant. We also offer you a one-of-its-kind opportunity to experience what the restaurant will look like in a 3D simulation, using state-of-the-art Augmented Reality technology.
With our virtual reality tool, you can inspect the various critical elements of the restaurant design to ensure that they are fully in sync with your requirements. The practical aspects to cover before restaurant construction include:
- Separate types of lighting in the dining area, kitchen, and storage areas.
- Adequate ventilation through the strategic use of quality exhaust/HVAC systems.
- Conveniently positioned storage space for produce, dry ingredients, liquor stock, etc.
- High-quality flooring and build materials that do not compromise on structural integrity.
The Restaurant Construction Process: How Long Each Phase Takes
| Phase | Typical duration | What drives the time |
|---|---|---|
| Site selection and lease negotiation | 1–3 months | Landlord work letter, zoning confirmation, feasibility checks |
| Design and engineering | 4–8 weeks | Kitchen layout decisions, equipment lists, MEP engineering |
| Health department and building permits | 4–14 weeks | County workload and the quality of the first submittal |
| Construction | 8–16 weeks | Shell condition (second-generation vs. cold dark shell), hood and grease work |
| Inspections and certificate of occupancy | 2–4 weeks | Fire, health and building sign-offs |
| Total, lease to opening | 4–9 months | Second-generation restaurant spaces sit at the short end |
For budget numbers by shell condition, see our restaurant build-out cost guide, and for bar and dining area planning, see important design factors for a successful restaurant construction project. Kitchen design should follow the current FDA Food Code as adopted by your state and county.
Restaurant Permit Timelines by County
Typical review windows for restaurant tenant build-outs; confirm current times with each county.
| County | Typical commercial building permit review | Notes for healthcare and restaurant tenants |
|---|---|---|
| Fairfax County, VA | 6–12 weeks | Tenant layout review through Land Development Services; health department plan review runs in parallel for food service |
| Loudoun County, VA | 4–8 weeks | Fire marshal review is a separate sign-off; plan for it in the schedule |
| Arlington County, VA | 6–10 weeks | Older building stock often needs code upgrades to restrooms and egress |
| Prince William County, VA | 4–8 weeks | Zoning use confirmation first if the space was not previously the same use |
| Montgomery County, MD | 6–12 weeks | Department of Permitting Services; food service plan review through county health |
| Prince George’s County, MD | 8–14 weeks | Allow extra time for resubmittals; start early |
| Howard County, MD | 4–8 weeks | Health department review is required for food service before building permit release |
| Frederick County, MD | 4–8 weeks | Well/septic or utility questions can add time outside water/sewer service areas |
How to Choose a Restaurant Construction Contractor
- Ask for completed restaurant projects with references, especially hood, grease and walk-in cooler work.
- Confirm a valid Virginia or Maryland contractor license and current insurance certificates.
- Ask how they coordinate with your kitchen equipment supplier and who sets the equipment.
- Ask for a written schedule that includes health department review and inspections, not just construction.
- Compare bids line by line: hood, fire suppression, grease interceptor, make-up air and electrical service are where low bids leave things out.
Opening more than one location? Our guide to franchise restaurant build-outs covers brand standards and multi-unit schedules, and our restaurant construction services page explains how we work.
Choose Trusted and Resourceful Restaurant Construction Experts
Once you have completed all the steps in the checklist, it is time to start the construction process. For an experience free from any hassles or headaches, you need to select a seasoned restaurant construction management and design firm that offers a design-build model.
With a highly flexible client-centric approach, Corporeal Visions has completed numerous restaurant construction projects. We bring a blend of superior craftsmanship, extensive experience, attention to detail, and advanced Augmented Reality technology to design and build the space of your dreams, whether it is a pub or fine dining restaurant.
Along with restaurant design and construction services, we also offer restaurant remodeling and restaurant renovations. You may hire your own general contractor or work with our team for any type of restaurant renovation or new build project management. To learn more about our services, please give us a call at (703) 909-4193 or contact us online today.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should be on a new restaurant checklist?
A new restaurant checklist should cover site and lease checks (zoning, hood route, grease interceptor, utilities, parking), design (equipment list, test fit, MEP, accessibility), permits (health department and building), construction, and inspections through the certificate of occupancy.
How long does the restaurant construction process take?
In Virginia and Maryland most restaurants take 4–9 months from signed lease to opening: about 4–8 weeks of design, 4–14 weeks of permit review, 8–16 weeks of construction and 2–4 weeks of inspections.
What permits do you need to build a restaurant?
You typically need health department plan approval plus building, mechanical, plumbing, electrical and fire permits, a hood and fire suppression approval, and a certificate of occupancy. Some counties also require a zoning use permit or outdoor seating approval.
How do I choose a restaurant construction contractor?
Choose a licensed contractor with completed restaurant projects, ask for references on hood and grease work, confirm they coordinate with your equipment supplier, and compare bids line by line on hood, fire suppression, grease interceptor and electrical scope.
Is it cheaper to build in a former restaurant space?
Usually yes. A second-generation restaurant space with an existing hood, grease interceptor and adequate utilities can save months and a large share of the budget compared with a cold dark shell, as long as the existing equipment meets current code.