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 $1,250 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 – Vending Application(PDF, 122KB)

  Please contact our business office at EnvironmentalHealth@Columbus.gov or (614) 645-7243 if you have any questions.

• 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

• 2025 Food Program Fee Schedule(PDF, 383KB)
• Recently Completed Plan Reviews(PDF, 341KB)

Mobile Food Operations – Requirements for a License

• Mobile Licensing Checklist and Plan Review Application(PDF, 524KB)
• Mobile Licensing Checklist and Plan Review Application Spanish(PDF, 388KB)
• 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 business days before opening date.  Applications will not be accepted on holidays, weekends, or the week of an event. 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)(PDF, 363KB)

• Temporary Food Application (Spanish)(PDF, 972KB)(PDF, 224KB)

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)

Replacing or Adding Equipment That Does Not Require Permits

Complete the Equipment Addition or Replacement form(PDF, 79KB) to document changes in your facility that does not require plan review, and email to EHPlanReview@Columbus.gov .

Examples include:

• Replacing like-for-like equipment in the same location as originally approved.
• Adding a new piece of equipment that does not require permits and/or does not change the flow of your operation. (Provide drawing showing location of new equipment in facility.) 

PLAN REVIEW IS REQUIRED FOR THE FOLLOWING:

• Installing multiple sinks/plumbing fixtures
• Installing a 3-compartment sink
• Installing a walk in cooler
• Installing/modifying a ventilation hood to include fire suppression system
• Changing the layout of the facility
• Adding onto the facility
• Adding a bar to the facility

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)(PDF, 482KB)

     

• 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 $1,250 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

• 2025 Food Safety Education Schedule(PDF, 112KB)
• 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

(PDF, 84KB)Non-Mandated Inspection Request Form(PDF, 84KB)

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