Food Protection Program

New Food Business – Complete a plan review packet and send it to our office with a payment to begin the process of getting a license.

IMPORTANT NOTE

• Standard Review (can take up to 30 days) - May take up to 30 days to review once a payment and completed application are received.
• Expedited Reviews (reviewed within two business days) - Requires an additional payment of $1,000 to be submitted with the application and plan review fee. 

Process for Submitting Plans and Getting a License

• Step 1 - Review our guide before getting started.
  • Starting a Food Business Guide (PDF, 1MB)
  • Starting a Food Business Guide - Spanish (PDF, 371KB)
  • Starting a Food Business Guide - Chinese (PDF, 664KB)
  •  Starting a Food Business Guide - Arabic (PDF, 418KB)

• Step 2 – Complete an application to tell us about your food business:
  • Food Facilities - Plan Review Application (PDF, 421KB)
  • Micro Markets - Micromarket Plan Review Application (PDF, 290KB),
  • Vending – Please contact our business office at EnvironmentalHealth@Columbus.gov or (614) 645-7243.

• Step 3 – Begin making changes to your facility to match your approved plans. Get all permits and use approved contractors for permitted work.
• Step 4- Contact us at least three business days before you want to open. Before opening, you’ll need to complete an application for a license and pass a final inspection.  

License Fees

• 2024 Food Program Fee Schedule (PDF, 275KB)
• Recently Completed Plan Reviews(PDF, 355KB)

Mobile Food Operations – Requirements for a License

• 2024 Mobile Licensing Checklist and Plan Review Application (PDF, 313KB)
• 2024 Spanish Mobile Licensing Checklist (PDF, 604KB)
• Mobile Food Vending – City of Columbus Licensing Section (additional license if selling food within the City of Columbus on public property).

 Temporary Food Licenses – Applications & Requirements

• Submission Deadline - Submit application at least five days before opening date. No exceptions!
• Licenses per Year - Maximum of 10 licenses per year. Each license cannot exceed five consecutive days.

• Getting a Temporary Food License(PDF, 204KB)

• Temporary Food Application (PDF, 687KB)

• Temporary Food Application (Spanish)(PDF, 972KB)

Complete and submit a plan review application if you want to make changes to your licensed food facility. Please get permits if needed and use approved contractors for permitted projects.

Application - Plan Review Application (PDF, 421KB)

If ownership has changed, you can’t sell food or beverages to customers until you get a new license. Follow these steps to get a license:

• Step 1 - Complete a Change of Ownership Plan Review Application to tell us about your building layout, building materials, menu and food safety processes:
  • change of ownership packet (PDF, 583KB)

     

• Step 2 – We review your plans within 30 days of receiving an application and plan review fee. If you need your plans reviewed sooner, you can pay an additional $1,000 and have your plans reviewed within two business day. If you meet all requirements your plans will be approved at this time.

   

• Step 3 – Begin making changes to your facility to match your approved plans. Get all permits and use approved contractors for permitted work.

   

• Step 4- Contact us at least three business days before you want to open. Before opening you’ll need to complete an application for a license and pass a final inspection. 

• Recently Completed Change of Ownership Plan Reviews(PDF, 329KB)

• Renewing a License - Licenses can be renewed during the month of February each year and will be valid for one year. Licenses renewed after March 1 will be assessed a 25% late penalty.

   

• Renewing a Mobile or Seasonal License - If you have a mobile license or are a seasonal facility, please contact us to renew your license before opening. You will not be charged a late penalty as long as you renew your license before opening.

   

• Questions?
  • Email: EnvironmentalHealth@Columbus.gov          
  • Phone: (614) 645-7005

Food Safety Training Courses

• 2024 Food Safety Education Schedule (PDF, 194KB)
• Register online for a course
• Other approved courses and providers

English

• 3 Sink Poster(PDF, 272KB)
• Boil Advisory Guidelines(PDF, 46KB)
• Calibrate Thermometer Poster(PDF, 109KB)
• Consumer Advisory Poster(PDF, 114KB)
• Cooking Temperatures Poster(PDF, 488KB)
• Cooling Foods Poster(PDF, 160KB)
• Cut Leafy Greens(PDF, 279KB)
• Datemarking Poster(PDF, 241KB)
• Dogs On Patios(PDF, 1MB)
• Employee Health Policy Agreement(PDF, 19KB)
• First Aid For Choking(PDF, 914KB)
• Food Allergens(PDF, 903KB)
• Hand Sink Poster(PDF, 89KB)
• Keeping Food Safe During A Power Outage(PDF, 47KB)
• No Bare Hand Contact Poster(PDF, 219KB)
• Product Labeling(PDF, 62KB)
• Refrigeration Safety Poster(PDF, 358KB)
• Vomit & Fecal Clean up Procedure(PDF, 381KB)
• Wash Hands Often Poster(PDF, 140KB)

Spanish

General Food Business Complaints

• Submit Online – www.columbus.gov/311 
• Email – 311@Columbus.gov
• Call – (614) 645-3111

Food-Related Illness Complaints

 If you believe that you have become ill from something you ate, we would like to know.

• Submit Online - www.columbus.gov/311
• Email – IDI@columbus.gov
• Call – (614) 645-1791

Inspection Results

Search for inspection results by name or address (Inspection Results Search)

Inspection Signs

Color-coded signs posted in licensed food facilities provide the public health and safety status for the businesses. The sign color is based on the most recent inspection of the facility.

• Map –Sign color of retail food facilities in Columbus and Worthington.

Inspection Types

The types of inspections(PDF, 141KB) conducted at a business vary depending on the types of food served.

Request an Inspection – Email EnvironmentalHealth@Columbus.gov or call (614) 645-7005 to request an inspection.

Letter of Opinion – Exemption from Licensing

Non-Mandated Inspection Request Form(PDF, 193KB)

Food Safety Alerts and Recalls

• Ohio Food Recall Announcements
• US FDA Recalls, Market Withdrawals & Safety Alerts

Helpful City of Columbus Websites

• Building and Zoning Services
• Code Enforcement
• City Auditor
• Licensing Section (non-food licenses)

Helpful State of Ohio Websites

• Ohio Secretary of State
  • Starting a Business - Ohio Secretary of State (ohiosos.gov)
  • Business Search
• Ohio Department of Taxation – Vendor’s License
• Ohio Department of Commerce – Division of Liquor Control
• Ohio Department of Health – Food Safety Program | Ohio Department of Health
• Ohio Department of Agriculture - Welcome to the Division of Food Safety (ohio.gov)

Helpful Federal Websites

• CDC – Food Allergies
• CDC – Food Safety
• Food and Drug Administration
• United States Department of Agriculture

Children's Meal Beverage Requirements

Restaurants must provide healthy drinks to children with meals such as water, low-fat milk and 100% fruit juices. For more information, click here Children's Meal Beverages inform.

Childcare Centers FAQ - Food in Childcare Centers FAQ (PDF, 300KB)

Donating Food

For information about how you can safely donate food, please review the information below:

• Food Donation Poster(PDF, 169KB)
• Food Donation Brochure(PDF, 292KB) (Spanish(PDF, 389KB), Chinese(PDF, 547KB), Somali(PDF, 374KB), Nepali(PDF, 431KB) )

Rules, Laws and Requirements – Retail Food Businesses

• Ohio Uniform Food Safety Code - 3717-1 Ohio Administrative Code
• Retail Food Establishments & Food Service Operations 3717 Ohio Revised Code
• 3701-21 Food Service Operations, Ohio Administrative Code
• 901:3 Retail Food Establishments, Ohio Administrative Code
• 901:4 Retail Food Establishments, Ohio Administrative Code

   

Retail Food Groups & Associations

• National Restaurant Association
• Ohio Restaurant & Hospitality Alliance
• Ohio Grocers Association