The Food Service Establishment Permit (also known as the Food Facility Permit) is the core authorization required to legally prepare, store, and serve food to the public in the United States. Each state and county issues this permit through local or regional Health Departments to ensure compliance with sanitation, food safety, and structural facility standards.
What This License Covers
- Authorization to operate a food preparation or food service facility (restaurant, café, commissary, manufacturing kitchen, catering, etc.)
- Verification of compliance with local and state health codes
- Mandatory pre-opening inspection and periodic re-inspections
- Plan review for new constructions, remodels, or ownership transfers
Without this permit, food operations cannot legally open to the public or sell food products across state or county lines.
Required Documents
- Completed application form (state/county specific)
- Business registration certificate (LLC, Sole Proprietor, Corporation)
- Site or floor plan showing equipment layout, sinks, refrigeration, ventilation
- Equipment list with manufacturer specifications
- Proof of approved wastewater and grease management systems
- Copy of lease or property ownership
- Food manager / handler certifications (ServSafe or equivalent)
- Menu or product list indicating risk category (low / moderate / high)
- Application fee payment (varies by jurisdiction)
Cost and Processing Time
| Factor | Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Application Fee | $200 – $1,500 | Depends on facility size and food risk category |
| Annual Renewal | $100 – $600 | Often includes re-inspection |
| Processing Time | 2 – 8 weeks | Includes plan review and inspection scheduling |
Renewal and Compliance
- Permits are typically valid for 12 months and must be renewed before expiration.
- Renewal may require proof of continued compliance, updated staff certifications, and payment of annual fees.
- Health Departments conduct regular inspections — both scheduled and unannounced.
- Significant facility changes (layout, ownership, food type) require re-application or plan resubmission.
State-by-State Food Facility Permit Directory
| State | Issuing Authority | Application Portal / Website | Contact / Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Alabama Department of Public Health — Food & Lodging Branch | alabamapublichealth.gov | RSA Tower, Suite 1250 201 Monroe Street Montgomery, AL 36104 Phone: (334) 206-5373 |
| Alaska | Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation — Food Safety & Sanitation Program | dec.alaska.gov | 555 Cordova Street Anchorage, AK 99501 Phone: (907) 269-7501 |
| Arizona | Arizona Department of Health Services — Food Safety & Environmental Services | azdhs.gov | 150 North 18th Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85007 Phone: (602) 364-2536 |
| Arkansas | Arkansas Department of Health — Environmental Health Division | healthy.arkansas.gov | 4815 West Markham Street Little Rock, AR 72205 Phone: (501) 661-2000 |
| California | California Department of Public Health — Food and Drug Branch (Retail Food Program) | cdph.ca.gov | 1500 Capitol Avenue, MS 7602 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: (800) 495-3232 |
| Colorado | Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment — Retail Food Program | cdphe.colorado.gov | 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South Denver, CO 80246 Phone: (303) 692-2000 |
| Connecticut | Connecticut Department of Public Health — Food Protection Program | portal.ct.gov/dph | 410 Capitol Avenue Hartford, CT 06134 Phone: (860) 509-7297 |
| Delaware | Delaware Division of Public Health — Office of Food Protection | dhss.delaware.gov | 43 S Dupont Hwy, Suite C, Dover, DE 19901 Phone: (302) 744-4546 |
| Florida | Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation — Division of Hotels & Restaurants | myfloridalicense.com | 2601 Blair Stone Road Tallahassee, FL 32399 Phone: (850) 487-1395 |
| Georgia | Georgia Department of Public Health — Environmental Health Section | dph.georgia.gov | 2 Peachtree Street NW Atlanta, GA 30303 Phone: (404) 657-6534 |
| Hawaii | Hawaii Department of Health — Sanitation Branch | health.hawaii.gov | 99-945 Halawa Valley Street Aiea, HI 96701 Phone: (808) 586-8000 |
| Idaho | Idaho Department of Health & Welfare — Food Protection Program | healthandwelfare.idaho.gov | 450 West State Street Boise, ID 83702 Phone: (208) 334-5938 |
| Illinois | Illinois Department of Public Health — Food, Drugs, and Dairies Division | dph.illinois.gov | 525 West Jefferson Street Springfield, IL 62761 Phone: (217) 782-7532 |
| Indiana | Indiana State Department of Health — Food Protection Program | in.gov/health | 2 North Meridian Street Indianapolis, IN 46204 Phone: (317) 233-1325 |
| Iowa | Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing — Food & Consumer Safety | dia.iowa.gov | 6200 Park Avenue, Suite 100 Des Moines, IA 50321 Phone: (515) 281-6538 |
| Kansas | Kansas Department of Agriculture — Food Safety & Lodging Program | agriculture.ks.gov | 1320 Research Park Drive Manhattan, KS 66502 Phone: (785) 564-6767 |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Department for Public Health — Food Safety Branch | chfs.ky.gov | 275 East Main Street Frankfort, KY 40621 Phone: (502) 564-7398 |
| Louisiana | Louisiana Department of Health — Sanitarian Services | ldh.la.gov | 628 North 4th Street Baton Rouge, LA 70802 Phone: (225) 342-9500 |
| Maine | Maine Department of Health and Human Services — Health Inspection Program | maine.gov/dhhs | 286 Water Street Augusta, ME 04333 Phone: (207) 287-5671 |
| Maryland | Maryland Department of Health — Office of Food Protection | health.maryland.gov | 201 West Preston Street Baltimore, MD 21201 Phone: (410) 767-8400 |
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts Department of Public Health — Food Protection Program | mass.gov | 305 South Street Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 Phone: (617) 983-6712 |
| Michigan | Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development — Food Safety | michigan.gov/mdard | 525 West Allegan Street Lansing, MI 48909 Phone: (800) 292-3939 |
| Minnesota | Minnesota Department of Health — Food, Pools, and Lodging Services | health.state.mn.us | 625 Robert Street North St. Paul, MN 55164-0975 Phone: (651) 201-4500 |
| Mississippi | Mississippi State Department of Health — Food Protection Division | msdh.ms.gov | 570 East Woodrow Wilson Avenue Jackson, MS 39216 Phone: (601) 576-7400 |
| Missouri | Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services — Bureau of Environmental Health Services | health.mo.gov | 912 Wildwood Drive Jefferson City, MO 65109 Phone: (573) 751-6095 |
| Montana | Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services — Food & Consumer Safety Section | dphhs.mt.gov | 1400 Broadway Street Helena, MT 59620 Phone: (406) 444-2837 |
| Nebraska | Nebraska Department of Agriculture — Food Safety & Consumer Protection | nda.nebraska.gov | 301 Centennial Mall South Lincoln, NE 68509 Phone: (402) 471-2341 |
| Nevada | Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health — Food Establishment Program | dpbh.nv.gov | 4150 Technology Way Carson City, NV 89706 Phone: (775) 684-4200 |
| New Hampshire | New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services — Food Protection Section | dhhs.nh.gov | 29 Hazen Drive Concord, NH 03301 Phone: (603) 271-4589 |
| New Jersey | New Jersey Department of Health — Food and Drug Safety Program | nj.gov/health | PO Box 369 Trenton, NJ 08625 Phone: (609) 826-4935 |
| New Mexico | New Mexico Environment Department — Food Program | env.nm.gov | 1190 St. Francis Drive, Suite N4050 Santa Fe, NM 87505 Phone: (505) 827-1840 |
| New York | New York State Department of Health — Bureau of Community Environmental Health and Food Protection | health.ny.gov | Corning Tower, Empire State Plaza Albany, NY 12237 Phone: (518) 402-7600 |
| North Carolina | North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services — Food Protection Program | ncdhhs.gov | 5605 Six Forks Road Raleigh, NC 27609 Phone: (919) 707-5854 |
| North Dakota | North Dakota Department of Health & Human Services — Food & Lodging Division | hhs.nd.gov | 600 East Boulevard Avenue, Dept. 301 Bismarck, ND 58505 Phone: (701) 328-1291 |
| Ohio | Ohio Department of Health — Food Safety Program | odh.ohio.gov | 246 North High Street Columbus, OH 43215 Phone: (614) 466-1390 |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma State Department of Health — Consumer Health Service | oklahoma.gov/health | 123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue Oklahoma City, OK 73102 Phone: (405) 426-8250 |
| Oregon | Oregon Health Authority — Foodborne Illness Prevention Program | oregon.gov/oha | 800 NE Oregon Street Portland, OR 97232 Phone: (971) 673-0440 |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture — Retail Food Facility Safety | pa.gov | 2301 North Cameron Street Harrisburg, PA 17110 Phone: (717) 787-4315 |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island Department of Health — Center for Food Protection | health.ri.gov | 3 Capitol Hill Providence, RI 02908 Phone: (401) 222-2750 |
| South Carolina | South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control — Food Protection Program | scdhec.gov | 2600 Bull Street Columbia, SC 29201 Phone: (803) 898-3432 |
| South Dakota | South Dakota Department of Health — Office of Health Protection | doh.sd.gov | 615 East 4th Street Pierre, SD 57501 Phone: (605) 773-3361 |
| Tennessee | Tennessee Department of Health — Environmental Health Section | tn.gov/health | 710 James Robertson Parkway Nashville, TN 37243 Phone: (615) 741-3111 |
| Texas | Texas Department of State Health Services — Retail Food Establishments Program | dshs.texas.gov | 1100 West 49th Street Austin, TX 78756 Phone: (512) 776-7111 |
| Utah | Utah Department of Health & Human Services — Food Protection Program | health.utah.gov | 288 North 1460 West Salt Lake City, UT 84116 Phone: (801) 538-6003 |
| Vermont | Vermont Department of Health — Food & Lodging Program | healthvermont.gov | 280 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671-8350 Phone: (802) 863-7221 |
| Virginia | Virginia Department of Health — Food Establishment Program | vdh.virginia.gov | 109 Governor Street Richmond, VA 23219 Phone: (804) 864-7000 |
| Washington | Washington State Department of Health — Food Safety Program | doh.wa.gov | 111 Israel Road SE Tumwater, WA 98501 Phone: (360) 236-3330 |
| West Virginia | West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources — Office of Environmental Health Services | dhhr.wv.gov | 350 Capitol Street, Room 313 Charleston, WV 25301 Phone: (304) 558-2981 |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection — Food Safety Division | datcp.wi.gov | 2811 Agriculture Drive Madison, WI 53718 Phone: (608) 224-4700 |
| Wyoming | Wyoming Department of Agriculture — Consumer Health Services | agriculture.wy.gov | 2219 Carey Avenue Cheyenne, WY 82002 Phone: (307) 777-7321 |
Each state operates through county or municipal health departments; always confirm with your local jurisdiction before construction or remodeling begins.
