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

Food Service Operation / Retail Food Establishment License

A restaurant, cafe, grocery or other food business in Warren County needs this license from the Warren County Health District, and the figure depends on whether the operation is commercial or non-commercial, its floor area and the risk level the district assigns. The amounts are the 'Total Fee' figures as published on the Warren County Health District's Environmental Health Fee Schedules page; the page prints one total for each line and no state/local split. Under ORC 3717.45(C)(1) and 3717.25(C)(1) the licensor collects the amount the state director of health sets 'at the same time the fee is collected.' The page states that 'A late fee of 25% of the local fee is assessed on facilities that do not submit application and payment postmarked by March 1st.' The district's renewals page states that license renewals for food facilities are completed through the Accela Citizen Access Portal, with payment online, by phone at 513-695-1220 or in person, and a $3.00 fee for credit card payments. 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.'

Food Service Operation License

There is no single Ohio restaurant license fee. The state's share is fixed by rule at $28 for a commercial food service operation of any size or risk level, $14 non-commercial and $6 per vending machine location; the rest is set by whichever of roughly a hundred and ten local boards of health licenses your address. Under rule 3701-21-02 the license is issued by the local board of health; the Department of Health approves those boards and binds them to a uniform method, so every district's schedule has the same shape: four risk levels by two floor-area bands, commercial or non-commercial, with non-commercial fixed at exactly half of commercial. Each district must run an annual cost analysis and hold a public hearing before changing its figure. Renewal is due by 1 March and a late application costs a further 25 per cent. Only the vending machine fee is capped against inflation; restaurant and mobile fees are not.

Shared with other businesses in Warren County Oh

• 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 coffee shops 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, coffee shops and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
• Small Flow On-Site Sewage Treatment System (SFOSTS) Permit — Warren County Health District, As published on the Warren County Health District's Environmental Health Fee Schedules page: Installation Permit SFOSTS $554.00; Alteration Permit for SFOSTS $515.00; site review $160.00; Operational Maintenance Permit for HSTS and SFOSTS $30.00 per year. A late fee of 25% of the local fee applies to work done before a permit is issued., installation and alteration permits are per project; the operation and maintenance permit is $30.00 per year. Also required for childcare centres, veterinary clinics and auto repair shops; what it involves is set out on the veterinary clinics page.
• Vendor's License — Ohio Department of Taxation, $50 one-time, per fixed location, no renewal — stays in effect until cancelled. Also required for coffee shops, retail stores, salons and barbers, fitness studios, auto repair shops and veterinary clinics; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
• Manager Certification in Food Protection — Ohio Department of Health, Food Safety Program, No fee, not stated by the Ohio Department of Health. Also required for coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.