Document the space you have
Provide the address, available survey or site plan, existing floor plan, and the previous use. Identify whether you are taking over a restaurant, changing another type of space, or altering the kitchen. Existing equipment or an old restaurant sign does not tell the full approval history. Gather the available permit records and describe the proposed operation.
Make the equipment list part of the plan discussion
List the proposed cooking equipment, sinks, refrigeration, and other significant kitchen equipment. Supply equipment information you already have and flag purchases not yet made. Changes to equipment can affect several professionals’ work, so keep one current list for the layout and building-system coordination.
- Kitchen and dining layout
- Equipment list and available specifications
- Existing and proposed plumbing fixtures
- Changes to electrical, cooling, ventilation, and cooking systems
- Proposed seating and any written review comments
Ask the right grease-interceptor questions early
For a commercial underground grease-interceptor installation or replacement in the City of Orlando, the city publishes an engineering and plumbing permit process with site-plan documentation. It also identifies Oil and Grease Management Program enrollment among the required records. That specific process should not be applied automatically to a different jurisdiction or every kind of grease device. Confirm the sewer authority, proposed work, and applicable requirements with the responsible professionals.
Coordinate the package before submitting pieces
Keep the kitchen layout, site information, and design inputs consistent. Ask who is responsible for revisions, department comments, and inspections. “MEP plans” means the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing information the project needs; our proposal identifies which coordination and professional design services are actually included.
Work backward from the opening goal
Send the address, existing records, proposed layout, equipment list, and target dates. We can discuss permit and design coordination, review-comment tracking, and closeout documentation. Licensing, business approvals, construction, and inspections have separate responsibilities; no one permit submission guarantees an opening date.
Official sources
Checked October 8, 2026. Confirm the current requirements with the department that issued your permit.
Need help applying this to your project?
Restaurant permit help, or send your project details. We will discuss the scope before work starts.