What permits do you need to open a coffee shop in Warren County Oh?

Mobile Food Service Operation / Retail Food Establishment License

A food truck, trailer or coffee cart licensed through the Warren County Health District pays by risk level: $178.00 for a high-risk mobile operation and $103.00 for a low-risk one, as published on the Warren County Health District's Environmental Health Fee Schedules page, which also states 'There is no fee for Mobile Plan Review.' The district's mobile plan review guidelines state that 'Licensed unit can be used anywhere in the state of Ohio.' Its Accela mobile page lists the documents to submit, including the menu, equipment list, commissary or shared kitchen agreement and person-in-charge certification in food safety for high-risk mobiles. The fees page states that 'Seasonal and mobile facilities must make payment prior to the start of their operational period.' The page itself states: 'Fees are subject to change at any time. We will do our best to keep these fees updated. Please verify the fee when calling in or during your visit.' The Health District's history page states that 'Warren County's health department has evolved into the Warren County Combined Health District, signifying not only health services for the county, but also for the cities of Franklin, Lebanon, Mason, and Springboro.'

Manager Certification in Food Protection

Ohio charges nothing for this. The Department of Health neither teaches the course nor sells the certificate — it approves providers, who set their own tuition, and the official application form carries no fee field at all. Two tiers exist and the names have changed: what was Level One is now person-in-charge certification, required for at least one person per shift at any operation first licensed after 1 March 2010, and what was Level Two is manager certification, required at risk level III and IV operations and needing an accredited exam as well as the course. Temporary, mobile and low-risk operations are exempt from the manager tier. Ohio has no food handler card in the California sense. The often-repeated claim that the certification lasts five years appears in neither the rule, the statute nor any Department page — the five-year term belongs to the third-party exam certificate, not to the Ohio certification, so no expiry is published here.

Shared with other businesses in Warren County Oh

• Food Service Operation / Retail Food Establishment License — Warren County Health District, Total Fee, as published on the Warren County Health District's Environmental Health Fee Schedules page. Commercial, less than 25,000 sq ft: Level 1 $228.00, Level 2 $253.00, Level 3 $453.00, Level 4 $578.00. Commercial, greater than 25,000 sq ft: Level 1 $303.00, Level 2 $328.00, Level 3 $1,128.00, Level 4 $1,203.00. Non-commercial, less than 25,000 sq ft: Level 1 $114.00, Level 2 $126.50, Level 3 $226.50, Level 4 $289.00. Non-commercial, greater than 25,000 sq ft: Level 1 $151.50, Level 2 $164.00, Level 3 $564.00, Level 4 $601.50. Vending, per location, $17.65. A late fee of 25% of the local fee applies when the application and payment are not postmarked by March 1., annual license; the fees page sets a March 1 postmark deadline for application and payment. Also required for restaurants and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.
• Food Facility Plan Review (New FSO/RFE) — Warren County Health District, $300 per plan review for a new commercial or non-commercial food facility, as published on the Health District's Environmental Health Fee Schedules page, one-time, for each new food facility; the district asks for 30 days to act on a plan review application. Also required for restaurants and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
• Temporary Food Service Operation / Retail Food Establishment License — Warren County Health District, Per the Health District's temporary packet: 'The fee for a Temporary FSO/RFE license is $100.00. A noncommercial license fee is $50.00'. The fees page lists 'Temporary FSO/RFE $100.00' and 'Non-Commercial Temporary FSO/RFE (50% of fee) $50.00'., a single event of no longer than 5 consecutive days; the packet states 'Up to 10 Temporary FSO/RFE licenses can be obtained per license holder per year'. Also required for food trucks, restaurants and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
• Vendor's License — Ohio Department of Taxation, $50 one-time, per fixed location, no renewal — stays in effect until cancelled. Also required for restaurants, retail stores, salons and barbers, fitness studios, auto repair shops and veterinary clinics; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
• Food Service Operation License — Ohio Department of Health, Food Safety Program, $28 state fee for a commercial operation ($14 non-commercial, $6 per vending machine location), plus a license fee set independently by the local board of health, 1 March to the last day of February. Also required for restaurants and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.