Building or remodeling a food service establishment
Whether you are Building
a New Facility or Remodeling an Existing one, the Rockingham County
Department of Environmental Health Food and Lodging Section reviews all
new facility plans for approval prior to construction except for
Prototype "Chain" or "Franchise" Facilities.
Plans must be submitted
with the necessary paperwork (see checklist below) to the Rockingham
County Department of Environmental Health Food and Lodging Section.
Plans must be submitted with the following:
- A complete set of plans drawn to scale showing the placement of
each piece of food service equipment, storage areas and trash can
washing facilities. Additional site plan showing the location of any
exterior equipment, such as dumpsters or walk-in coolers must also be
provided if applicable.
- Manufacturer specification sheets for each piece of new equipment (not required, but helpful)
- Complete Food Service Plan Review Application
- Proposed menu
- $250 Plan Review Fee for newly constructed or remodeled facilities or a $100 Plan Review fee for Changes in ownership.
For additional technical information, consider reviewing the Conference for Food Protection: Plan Review for Food Establishments 2016 document.
A permit will only be issued when the facility satisfies all of the requirements of the Rules Governing the Sanitation of Food Service Establishments.
An evaluation by Environmental Health does not cover any regulations
for other jurisdictions such as Planning & Zoning, Building
Inspections or the Fire Marshal.
Purchasing an existing food service establishment
When purchasing an
existing facility, the new owner must obtain his or her own food service
permit, as the permit does not transfer with the sale of an
establishment between people or locations. A Health Permit is separate
from a Business License or Privilege License. The new owner must obtain
a permit from the Rockingham County Department of Environmental Health
Food and Lodging Section before preparing and selling food.
PLEASE BE ADVISED that
when you purchase an existing facility, you may be required to make
construction modifications and equipment replacements as necessary to
comply with current requirements. These modifications depend on changes
to the menu, extent of renovation and the age of the facility and
equipment. Potential modifications to consider include, but are not
limited to:
- sink locations
- drain locations
- refrigeration
- water heater capacity
- floors, walls & ceilings
- lighting
- hood ventilation system
PLEASE FACTOR these potential costs and time requirements into your decision BEFORE you
purchase an existing food service facility. Rockingham County staff
are available to schedule a consultation with you at the facility site
to identify requirements prior to you receiving a new food service
permit. To obtain a permit, complete the following steps:
-
Complete and submit the Food Service Plan Review Application
-
Submit the proposed menu
-
Submit the facility's floor plan