Retail Food

The Health Department is responsible for inspecting and regulating any establishment serving food, whether it's a restaurant or a temporary food establishment.

Types of food service establishments
Opening a new food service establishment
Opening a temporary food establishment
Frequently asked questions

Types of food service establishments
A food service establishment is defined in the Kentucky Food Establishment Act as any fixed or mobile commercial establishment that engages in the preparation and serving of ready-to-eat foods in portions to the consumer, including, but not limited to:

It shall not include food vending machines, establishments serving beverages only in single service or original containers or retail food stores which only cut, slice, and prepare cold-cut sandwiches for individual consumption.

A temporary food establishment is defined in the Kentucky Food Establishment Act as any food service establishment which operates at a fixed location for a period of time, not to exceed 14 consecutive days.

Opening a new retail food establishment
Retail food establishments in Kentucky must meet certain basic requirements in order to begin operating. See a timeline for this process. The steps for meeting those requirements are as follows:

Facility design approval: Facilities from which retail food establishments are to operate must be approved by the Health Department before a permit to operate can be issued. For new and extensively altered establishments or those that have not previously been permitted as a retail food establishment, plan drawings are required to be submitted for approval prior to construction, alteration or use of the facility. Submission of the drawings must be done as outlined in the “Plan Submission Guidelines and Basic Facility Requirements for Retail Food Establishments in Kentucky.”   

Permit to operate: Retail food establishments in Kentucky may not operate until a permit has been obtained from the Health Department.  In Boone, Campbell, Grant and Kenton counties permits may be secured by submitting an application for permit and the required fee to Health Department's Environmental Health and Safety office. Permits to operate are issued following receipt of the application with fee and passage of a facility inspection.   

Food service manager certification: Within 60 days of receiving a permit to operate, food service establishments such as restaurants, cafeterias, delicatessens, cafés and catering kitchens in Northern Kentucky must have a district-certified food service manager on duty at all times that foods are being prepared and served. Certification may be accomplished by submitting an application along with the required fee to this office. Applicants are scheduled for a class on food safety and following attendance of the class are tested. Those who attend the class and pass the written test are awarded the Health Department’s food service manager certification. The certification remains in effect for three years at which time it must be renewed.

Opening a temporary food establishment
Temporary food service establishments in Kentucky (such as booths at festivals), unless specifically exempted, must obtain a permit to operate from the Health Department prior to opening. In Boone, Campbell, Grant, and Kenton counties permits may be secured by submitting an application for permit and the required fee for the event to this office. Upon receipt of the application and fee an inspection will be conducted by a Health Department representative prior to the scheduled opening of the booth or facility. Those meeting the operational requirements for temporary food service establishments are issued a permit to operate. Applications for permits should be submitted to the Health Department directly or through the event organizer at least two weeks prior to the event. Completed applications should be sent to Food Program Manager, Northern Kentucky Health Department, Environmental Health and Safety, 610 Medical Village Drive, Edgewood, KY 41017.

Dealing with Emergencies
When emergency situations occur that affect an establishment’s ability to operate in a sanitary manner such as in the case of fire, extended power outages and water service interruptions, the establishment should suspend its operations and notify the Health Department of the occurrence. Following an investigation of the situation the establishment will be notified about when it may resume operation. For water service interruptions resulting in water supply emergencies, establishments must also adhere to Kentucky’s Water Emergency Operational Procedures for Retail Food Establishments until the water supply emergency is lifted.

Frequently Asked Questions

I have a concern about sanitation or food preparation at a Northern Kentucky restaurant. What should I do?
The Health Department will investigate any complaints about sanitation in a restaurant or food contamination. To register a complaint, please contact Environmental Services at 859.341.4151. Please note that it may be a few days before your complaint will be investigated. Often times, incidents causing concern in restaurants are isolated or can be easily corrected.

I already have a food establishment permit for this year. How do I renew it for next year?
Food permits are good for the calendar year.  If you have an existing food establishment, you should automatically get a renewal application, typically in the fall months.

Are restaurant workers required to wear gloves when preparing food?
Glove use is not necessarily required when preparing food. If there is minimal hand contact with the food, gloves are not required. If food is handled directly, there must be a barrier in place; the food handler can either wear gloves or use tongs, spatula, etc.

How often should restaurant workers change gloves?
Gloves should be changed regularly, especially between tasks. If a restaurant worker is not wearing gloves, he should wash his hands frequently.

Are restaurant workers required to wear hair nets when preparing food?
Some type of hair restraint is required for anyone preparing food, either a visor, hat, hairnet, barrettes or pony tail.

I'm opening my restaurant late in the year. Is the permit fee pro-rated?
Unfortunately food permit fees are not pro-rated. The fee currently varies between $120 and $290 depending upon the number of seats in the establishment, whether or not it has a drive through window and whether or not it engages in catering of food.

How long can my temporary food permit last?
Temporary food establishment permits may only last for 14 days. If you would like to operate a temporary food establishment for longer, you must either apply for a permanent permit or close for 30 days and then re-open with a new temporary permit.

I would like to open a food-based business in my home. What should I do?
In general, home-based businesses (such as bakers or caterers) are prohibited. For a home food business to be permitted, the kitchen where the food is prepared must be separated from the rest of the living quarters with solid walls or doors. The kitchen may only be used for the business.