In Florida, three agencies share responsibilities for ensuring that only safe, and wholesome food is provided to the public: Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Department of Business and Professional Regulations, and Department of Health.
- Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Conducts inspection on grocery stores, food processing plants, food storage, and distribution points. - Department of Business and Professional Regulation
Licenses and inspects restaurants, mobile food vehicles, and caterers. - Department of Health
Responsible for working with food service establishments that include institutions, schools, civic or fraternal organizations, bars and lounges, and theaters that serve traditional theater foods (such as soft drinks, popcorn, hot dogs, etc.), and locations that participate in the USDA Afterschool Meal Program. The Florida Department of Health also addresses temporary food events, mobile food units, and vending machines that operate at or through any of these facilities. Local county health departments inspect and issue food certificates to these facilities. Unless exempted, these food operations need to comply with food manager certification requirements.
Resources
Applying for a Sanitation Certificate
Sanitation certificates (permits) for Florida Department of Health-regulated food service establishment are issued by local county health departments in the county where the facility is located.
To apply for a sanitation certificate and open a food service establishment with the Florida Department of Health, you must provide and complete the following information 90 days in advance before construction or modification begins and opening of the establishment.
A proposed menu and set of plans must accompany the application for plan review. Plans must be drawn to scale, but do not have to be engineered or architectural drawings (see Plan Review Guide for more required plan details/schedules).
- Plan Review Guide
Designed to assist applicants to consider what components or equipment are applicable to their particular food operation. - Application for Sanitation Certificate DH 4086
Contact the local county health department for fee amounts, payment options and information on how to submit documents. - Plan Review Application DH8003
Health Issues
Many of the reported cases of foodborne illness are caused by bacteria or by the toxins (poisons) produced by bacteria. Bacteria multiply extremely fast when food is kept at an unsafe temperature (above 41 degrees F and below 135 degrees Fahrenheit). Factors that can contribute to foodborne illnesses are:
- Improper handwashing and touching ready to eat foods with bare hands
- Improper storage of food (inadequate refrigeration temperature or hot holding temperature)
- Improper washing of hands and fingernails
- Improperly cooling foods
- Cross contamination (e.g., from uncooked meat to salad fixings)
- Improperly cleaned and sanitized eating and cooking utensils, work areas, and equipment
- Contamination of food, utensils, and equipment from flies, roaches, and other pests
Contact Program Staff
If you have any general questions about Florida Department of Health Food Hygiene Facility Sanitation Certificate, contact the local county health department in the county where the food service establishment is or will be located.