The Food Safety Program inspects food service operations, food vending machines, mobile food operations, and food establishments. Schools, daycare centers, restaurants, and hospitals are just a few of the areas inspected on a regular basis by this division.
What we do:
- License all food service operations and food establishments
- Inspect food establishments and food services operations
- Approve plans for all new and renovated food-related facilities
- Investigate foodborne illnesses and reports of contaminated food
- Investigate food complaints made by customers
- Collect and analyze water samples from food establishments/food service operations with privately owned wells
- Make in-service presentations
- Investigate reports of food related violations
- Inspect food vending machines
If you need information about a change of ownership inspection, or have any questions or concerns regarding food service operations, please contact the Environmental Health Division at 740-392-2200 Ext. 2222.
License Types
An application for a license to operate a new food service operation during any part of the year shall be filed as hereinafter provided not less than ten days before the food service operation is opened for business. (OAC 3701-21-02-B)
- A Food Service License is issued to a location or area where food is prepared and served in individual portions. Examples include restaurants, cafeterias, and schools.
- A Retail Food Establishment License is issued to a facility that sells prepackaged food items, or sells multiple servings of food products. Examples include grocery stores, gas stations, and most pizza shops.
- Temporary Food License is issued to a facility that is operated at an event for no more than five consecutive days.
- Mobile Food License is issued to a moveable structure which must change locations at least once every 40 (forty) days.
- Vending Machine License is required if you sell food that requires temperature control (frozen, refrigerated, or hot food). A license is also required if the food is dispensed in an open container or cup, such as coffee, soda, soup, or hot chocolate.
Forms and Resources
- Plan Review Submittal Packet
- Ohio Uniform Food Safety Code Changes
- Ohio Uniform Food Safety Code
- Mobile Food Service Operation Guidelines
- Mobile Food Planning Guide and Review Form
- Cottage Food Production
- Application for Temporary Food Permit - 5 pages
- Guidelines During a Boil Advisory or Water Interruption
- Food Safety Guidelines at Temporary Events
- Food Safety Posters (English - 9 different posters, print one or all)
- Food Safety Posters (Spanish - 9 different posters, print one or all)
- Food Safety Posters (Chinese - 9 different posters, print one or all)
- Thaw Foods Safely Handout
- Labeling Requirements
- Consumer Advisory Requirements
- Employee Illness Reporting Requirements
- First Aid for Food Choking Poster
- First Aid for Food Choking Poster (Mandarin)
- First Aid for Food Choking Poster (Spanish)
- Guidance Sheet For Bodily Fluid Clean-up
- Food Employee/Conditional Employee Reporting Disease Agreement
- Changes in the Ohio Uniform Food Safety Code
- Date-Marking Food Guidance
- HACCP Food Guidance
- Fire and Food Safety in a Food Service Operation
- Flooding in a Food Service Operation
- Food Safety and Power Outages
- Potable Water Interruption in a Food Service Operaion
- Potluck Food Safety
- Sewage Backup in a Food Safety Operation
