Licensing & Fees
Whether selling food from a home kitchen or a national restaurant brand, food safety should be at the forefront. The Ohio Uniform Food Safety Code establishes licensing requirements and rules to set a minimum standard of food safety practices patrons can count on. A food license is required for most scenarios in which food or beverage is being sold to other people. There are several types of food licenses based upon the type of food being sold and the manner in which it is prepared or sold.
Get or Renew Your License
Restaurants, Cafeterias & Grocery Stores (Food Service Operations & Retail Food Establishments) – A Food Service Operation (FSO) license is required for restaurants, cafeterias, and other operations that prepare and sell individual servings of food. A Retail Food Establishment (RFE) license is required for grocery stores and gas stations that sell prepackaged food items or multiple food portions. Both FSO and RFE licenses expire March 1 of each year. A new license must be applied for each year. The Union County Health Department mails or emails license applications in mid to late January of each year to all facilities currently licensed by the Union County Health Department. Completed application and fee must be postmarked or received by our office before the closing of business on March 1.
Insert Food Service License Application_RFE ( I want this to standout)
Link to fee schedule table or graphic lower on this page
View Food Service Operation Rules Here: Ohio Administrative Code 3701-21
View Definition of Risk Level of Food Service Operations Here: Ohio Administrative Code 3701-21-02.3
View Retail Food Establishments; Food Service Operations Laws: Ohio Revised Code 3717
View Retail Food Establishment Licensing Rules Here: Ohio Administrative Code 901:3-4
Looking to open your own restaurant or purchase an existing operation? Visit our Opening a restaurant page for what you need to know. (links to the opening a restaurant page)
Food Truck (Mobile Units) – A mobile food license is required for food service operations that are typically self-contained and move locations at least once every 40 days. Food trucks are the most notable type of mobile unit. A mobile food license allows the unit to operate anywhere in Ohio. Licenses are issued by the local health department in the home county of the owner of the mobile unit. Mobile food licenses expire March 1 of each year. A new license must be applied for each year. A license cannot be issued until the Union County Health Department receives an application, and license fee and conducts a pre-license inspection.
Looking to open your own food truck? Visit our Opening a restaurant page for what you need to know.
Concession Stands (Temporaries) – A temporary food license is required for concession stands selling hot or cold foods at events that are typically a few days in length. This type of license is often used by fundraising groups or organizations that only sell food at one or two events a year. A concession stand that only sells canned or bottled drinks or prepackaged snacks or candy does not typically need a temporary food license. A temporary food license is typically valid for five days. A temporary food license application and license fee should be received at least 10 days prior to your event.
Vending – A food license is typically required if a location or business has vending machines that dispense foods that are hot, cold, or frozen, fountain drinks, or coffee. A vending license is not required if the machine only dispenses canned or bottled drinks or prepackaged snacks or candies that do not need temperature control. Vending food licenses expire March 1 of each year. A new license must be applied for each year. Contact our office for specifications as many variables determine licensing needs.
Home Bakery – A home bakery license is needed if a home baker is selling baked goods that require temperature control (such as cheesecakes, cream pies, custard pies, pumpkin pies, etc.). These items are potentially hazardous food items because they require temperature control to help prevent the rapid and progressive growth of bacteria. Home bakery licenses are issued by the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Cost is $10 per year and due at the time of inspection. A recent water sample may also be needed if the home bakery uses a well for drinking water. Click here to go to the Ohio Department of Agriculture to learn more.
Cottage Foods – A Cottage Food Production Operation is exempt from being licensed and inspected for the production of cottage foods but does have labeling requirements. Cottage Foods are typically bakery goods such as cookies, cakes, fruit pies, breads, jams, jellies, maple syrup, honey, and dried spices and herbs that do not need to be temperature controlled. Cottage food operations fall under the jurisdiction of the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Click here to go to the Ohio Department of Agriculture to learn more.
View Cottage Food Rules Here: Ohio Administrative Code 901:3-20
Who Doesn’t Need a Food License?
The Ohio Administrative Code lists many types of food producers or scenarios in which a food license is not required to sell or provide food products. Many of these are related to Cottage Food Production Operations (described above), farmers markets and roadside produce stands, in-home daycare providers, and church or school fundraising events that are only held a few times a year. Please contact our sanitarian team at 937.642.2053 to determine your licensing needs.
View Exemptions from Licensing Requirements Here: Ohio Administrative Code 3717.42
Fee Schedule
Fees for the food licensing and inspection program are set in accordance with the Ohio Revised Code 3717.07. The full Environmental Health Fee Schedule for the Union County Health Department is available in PDF here: Environmental Health Fee Schedule
| Type of License | Fee |
| Restaurant, Cafeteria, Grocery Store – Commercial (<25,000 square feet) Retail Food Establishment or Food Service Operation License | |
| Level 1 | $240 + State Fee ($28) |
| Level 2 | $264 + State Fee ($28) |
| Level 3 | $452 + State Fee ($28) |
| Level 4 | $558 + State Fee ($28) |
| Restaurant, Cafeteria, Grocery Store – Commercial (>25,000 square feet) Retail Food Establishment or Food Service Operation License | |
| Level 1 | $332 + State Fee ($28) |
| Level 2 | $336 + State Fee ($28) |
| Level 3 | $1,048 + State Fee ($28) |
| Level 4 | $1,107 + State Fee ($28) |
| School Cafeteria, Non-Profit Restaurant –
Non-Commercial Retail Food Establishment or Food Service Operation License |
50% of the appropriate local commercial fee listed above + State Fee ($28) |
| Food Truck – Mobile Unit License | $122 + State Fee ($28) |
| Concessions – Temporary Food Service License | |
| Commercial | $86 + State Fee ($0) |
| Non-Commercial | $43 + State Fee ($0) |
| Hot/Cold/Frozen Food, Coffee, Fountain Drink Dispensing – Vending License | $9.76 + State Fee ($6) |
| Plan Review for New Operations | Fee |
| Food Service Plan Review – Review Completed within 30 days* | |
| Restaurant, Cafeteria, Grocery Store – Commercial (<25,000 square feet) Retail Food Establishment or Food Service Operation License | 50% of the appropriate local commercial fee listed above + State Fee ($0)
Example: Level 1 = $120 |
| Restaurant, Cafeteria, Grocery Store – Commercial (>25,000 square feet) Retail Food Establishment or Food Service Operation License | 50% of the appropriate local commercial fee listed above + State Fee ($0)
Example: Level 1 = $166 |
| School Cafeteria, Non-Profit Restaurant –
Non-Commercial Retail Food Establishment or Food Service Operation License |
50% of the appropriate local commercial fee listed above + State Fee ($0)
Example: Level 1 = $60 |
| *Expedited Food Service Plan Review Completed within 3 business days available for $1000 + plan review fee listed above | |
Before planning to invest in a restaurant or other food service operation, please contact the Union County Health Department at (937) 642-2053. Our environmental health staff will walk you through the requirements and process for getting your food service plans approved and/or getting your permit to open. Even if you are considering purchasing an existing food service operation, please call our office. Under Ohio Food Code, restaurants and/or food service operations are required to be brought up to the current code upon a change in ownership.
Food LicensesFood Licenses – Click here for information on how to apply and what is needed
Applications, Education & Guidelines for Food Service Operation– Click here for resources to help you comply with Ohio Food Code rules
New FSO/RFE
- Plan Review (add site plan and HVAC plan) (fee)
- Pre-Licensing Inspection (no fee)
- License Application and Fee
- After licensing 30-day inspection (no fee)
- Renew license by March 1.
Buying restaurant
- Pre-licensing inspection (no fee)
- Brought up to current code
- License Application and fee
- After licensing 30-day inspection (no fee)
- Renew license by March 1.
Plan review may be required based upon findings of the pre-licensing inspection.
New Mobile
Plan Review (no fee)
Menu
List of equipment make and model number
Surface finishes for floors, walls, and ceilings
Floor plan
Lighting plan
Pre-licensing inspection (no fee)
Application for license and fee
R
Fact sheet for the mobile unit – what you need to have in your unit.
Guide for Facility Review – Fact Sheet to go with Plan Review.
Application for Facility Review – Just for new FSO, RFE
