PERMANENT RETAIL FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS
Every food establishment owner must get a permit from Kitsap Public Health District's Food Program to open and operate their business. A food establishment is one that stores, sells, packages, vends, serves, or prepares food for the public. A food establishment will fall into one of two categories: Permanent or temporary.
A temporary food establishment is one that operates at a public event. If you fall into this category, please see our Temporary Food Establishment page for more information.
If your establishment does not fall into the temporary food establishment category, then it is in the permanent food establishment category. These establishments are issued an annual permit, which expire every June 30 and must be renewed annually. Permits are non-refundable and not transferable between owners nor locations. The first step to obtaining an annual permit is plan review.
PLAN REVIEW
Plan Review Applications must be submitted at least 30 days prior to your intended opening. We are currently experiencing a high volume of plan reviews and you may experience delays. Your patience is appreciated.
If you are beginning a new food establishment, changing the ownership of an existing establishment, or changing the menu, equipment, or services offered of your establishment, then you will need to go through review with the Health District.
There are up to three types of review that each food service establishment will need to go through with the Health District: Food, drinking water, and onsite sewage system. All food establishments will have the food review, and the drinking water and onsite sewage system reviews depend on the utilities of the building the food establishment is located within. Your Health District contact person for each type of review may differ.
- The food portion of the review is referred to as “plan review.” You will need to submit a Plan Review Application. For mobile units, submit the Mobile Unit Plan Review Packet rather than the Plan Review Application.
- To determine if there is a drinking water or onsite sewage system component to your review, complete the Drinking Water/Onsite Sewage System Application Questionnaire. You can read more about septic systems and drinking water on our website.
Applications can be submitted in person or mailed, and we recommend that you submit your applications in person if your establishment is on a septic or holding tank. Only complete applications will be accepted, and incomplete applications will be returned. Fees for applications are non-refundable. We accept cash, checks, money orders, Visa, or Mastercard.
If you have questions, please call us at (360) 728-2235 or email dayna.katula@kitsappublichealth.org. We are here to help you be successful!
INFORMATION YOU NEED
There is additional information for the following types of permanent food establishments:
The following fact sheets will help you serve safe food to your customers. If you have questions, please call us at (360) 728-2235 or email dayna.katula@kitsappublichealth.org. We are here to help you be successful!
You can also sign-up here to receive information and notifications for food establishments from Kitsap Public Health District.
- Minimizing Bare Hand Contact
- Sample Hand Washing Policy
- Dairy Products
- Produce Washing
- Shellfish Safety
- Shelf Stable Pies
- The Consumer Advisory Notice
- Labeling Requirements
- Stem Thermometer Calibration
- Proper Cooling
- Reheating & Hot Holding
- Open Houses
- Wine & Beer Tastings
- Service Animals Welcome
SMOKING IN PUBLIC PLACES LAW
Since December 8th, 2005, Washington State’s Smoking in Public Places Law (SIPP):
- Bans indoor smoking in public places and places of employment
- Requires that people who smoke outside of buildings stay 25 feet away from doors, open windows, or air intake panels.
The SIPP law requires every local public health district to enforce the law and provide education for businesses and employers about the law so they know how to comply with it. If you have questions, please call us at (360) 728-2235.