3-Step Plan Review process for permanent food establishments

A permanent food business is an establishment operating at a fixed location for more than twenty-one (21) consecutive days.

The Food Protection Program reviews and approves applications for the construction of new food establishments or the remodeling of existing ones. The process begins by submitting plans to the Food Protection Program. Plans are reviewed to ensure that the establishment will have all the necessary facilities and equipment. When changing ownership of an existing food establishment, the new owner must apply for a permit to operate.

Note: If you are renewing an existing food business permit, you may do so using our online services portal.

Follow the steps below for the 3-Step Plan Review process to obtain a new food business permit:

Food Service Plan Guide Checklists covering every area of your business

• Plan guide for permanent food service plan review
  The Plan Guide is a checklist of items you will need to review and include in your final plans to ensure that you've covered every area of your food business. Use this Plan Guide if you are starting a permanent or catering food service establishment.
  • View a sample plan drawing
  • View kitchen equipment drawings
    
    
• Attention City of Seattle Plan Review applicants:
  
  Beginning May 16, 2011, all City of Seattle food plan review submittals MUST be submitted directly to the Health Department. City of Seattle applicants must submit Two (2) sets of plans — Required for City of Seattle and King County projects. Please check with your local building department for the number of approved Health Department plans required for their building department submittal for special projects.
  • Cover sheet (See Step 2 below)
  • Plan review application (Step 2)
  • Appropriate plan review application fee

Please refer to the Permanent Plan Review Guideline above for all other requirements to ensure that plans are complete before submitting to the Health Department.

Plan Review Application Submit an application for a Plans Examiner to review the proposed plan for your business

Once you complete your final plans of how your establishment will be set up for business according to the Plan Guides in Step 1, you will need to submit them for review along with the Plan Review Application.

Plan review submittal cover sheet for permanent food service establishments


Plan review application for permanent food establishment

Food Service Permit Application After your business plan has been approved by a Plans Examiner in Step 2, the final step is to apply for a food service business permit

• Application for permanent food establishment
  Permanent, Mobile Food and Catering businesses use this application. This is the permit that allows you to operate and open for business to the public.

Food and beverage handler permits

• Food Worker Card
  All employees of a food establishment including cooks, bartenders, servers, hosts, bus persons, etc. are required to obtain a Washington State Food Worker Card. You can take the class and test conveniently online or go to any of our in-person classes.
  
  
• Meat cutter license
  If your job requires the cutting of fresh beef, veal, lamb and/or pork within a meat establishment you will need to pass an exam to obtain a personal occupational Meat Cutter license in addition to the Food Handler Card exam.
  
  
• MAST / alcohol server permits (external site)
  You obtain this type of permit if you serve alcohol or manage alcohol servers at a liquor-licensed business that sells alcohol for on-premises consumption. MAST or alcohol server permits are issued by the Washington State Liquor Control Board.

Additional resources

• Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan applications for smoking meats for preservation, vacuum packaging, cooking using the sous vide process or curing:
  • Dried Fermented Sausage – Cured Meats
  • Smoking for Preservation – Cured Meats
  • Sous Vide - Reduced Oxygen Packaging (ROP)
  • Vacuum Packaging - Reduced Oxygen Packaging (ROP)
    
    
• List of important agency contacts
  You may need to contact several local agencies to find out what you need to do to complete your Food Business Plan including the Fire Department, Building Department, business licensing, liquor permits, sewage hookups, etc. Most agencies have an information specialist who can answer your specific questions. Which agencies you need to contact will depend on your particular business.
  
  
• Sidewalk cafes in Seattle city limits
  
  
• Request for variance from the food code
  
  
• Risk-based inspection program
  Description of the three different risk type categories that can be assigned to a food service establishment.
  
  
• Risk levels and permit classifications
  Permits are now based on risk levels determined by type of food and preparation steps. This information will assist you in determining what food permit to apply for and obtain. The more complex the menu and preparation of foods, the higher the risk level, which in turn relates to more frequent inspection of your establishment.
  
  
• King County Board of Health (BOH) food codes
  If you wish to reference the detailed Food Codes for King County, click on the link above and view BOH Titles 5, R5, 6 and R6 as they pertain to food service establishments.
  
  
• Washington State Retail Food Code