Establishment Lookup
What is a food service establishment?
This
is any establishment or operation where food is prepared or served at
wholesale or retail for pay. This does not include establishments that
serve only items such as ice cream, bakery items, popcorn, candied
apples or cotton candy. Food Service Establishments include:
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Restaurants
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Food Stands
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Meat Markets
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School Lunchrooms
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Nursing Home Cafeterias
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Elderly Nutrition Sites
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Limited Food Stands
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Temporary Food Stands
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Mobile Food Units
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Pushcarts
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Drink Stands
Do I need a permit to operate a food service establishment in North Carolina?
Yes, food service establishments and drink stands must be permitted
by Environmental Health before opening. Permits are issued to the owner
or operator of the establishment and are not transferable to new owners
if the business is sold. See How to Apply for Food Establishment Permits for more information.
Adoption of the 2017 FDA Food Code
Adoption of the 2017 FDA Food Code - North Carolina adopted the 2017 FDA Food Code which went into effect on October 1, 2021. The North Carolina Food Code Manual is the 2017 FDA Food Code with North Carolina’s amendments, additions, and deletions (Rules .2651-.2658). This is the primary resource that is used for inspections and compliance of food service establishments in North Carolina.
Mission
In
Rockingham County, Environmental Health's main priority is to protect
and promote the health of our community. This includes protecting the
citizens of this county from unnecessary environmental risks by managing
the permitting and inspections of all restaurants, food stands, mobile
food units, push carts, temporary food stands, meat markets, school
lunchrooms, elderly nutrition sites and limited food stands to ensure
that they comply with the sanitation standards established by the state
health department.
Complaints?
If you have concerns about the sanitation at a food service
establishment in Rockingham County, speak to the owner or
manager directly. If you still have concerns, you may also call us at
(336)342-8130 to register a complaint or enter it in the online complaint form.