Food Safety Program Information

Highland County Health Department’s Food Safety Program oversees licensing for various food facilities in the county: Food Service Operations (FSO), Retail Food Establishments (RFE), Temporary Food Service Operations (Temp. FSO), Temporary Retail Food Establishments (Temp RFE), Mobile FSOs, Mobile RFEs, Vending Locations, and RFE Micro Markets. Environmental Health Specialists conduct inspections to ensure compliance with the Ohio Uniform Food Safety Code, address food-related complaints, and offer educational programs on safe food handling and code compliance.

License Types:

**Plans for your desired facility must be submitted and reviewed before applying for a license. Use the plan review packets below to guide you through the steps to start a food facility.

  • Food Service Operation (FSO) License: This license is required for locations where food is prepared and served in individual portions. Common examples include restaurants, cafeterias, and schools.

    Retail Food Establishment (RFE) License: This license applies to facilities that sell prepackaged food or offer food in multiple servings. Examples include grocery stores, gas stations, and most pizza shops.

    [CLICK HERE to download the FSO and RFE Application]

    [CLICK HERE to download the License Renewal form]

    [CLICK HERE to download the License Transfer form]

  • Temporary Food Establishment License Information

    A Temporary Food Establishment license is available for:

    • Government agencies

    • Churches

    • Schools

    • Service clubs

    • Youth groups

    • Tax-exempt nonprofits

    Key Details:

    • The license is valid for up to 5 days (fairs excluded).

    • A maximum of 10 licenses can be issued per licensing period in Highland County for different events.

    • Only one license per person or government entity is allowed for each event.

    [ CLICK HERE to download the complete guidance and application.]

  • Mobile Food Establishment Information

    A Mobile Food Establishment is a food station that moves frequently. If a station stays in one place for more than 40 days, it is no longer considered mobile.

    Examples of Mobile Food Establishments:

    • Food trucks

    • Food trailers

    • Push carts

    [CLICK HERE to download the complete guidance and application.]

  • Vending Machine and Micro Market License Information

    These licenses are required for facilities selling temperature-controlled food, such as frozen, refrigerated, or hot items.

    When a License is Needed:

    • Food is dispensed in open containers or cups (e.g., coffee, soda, soup, or hot chocolate).

    Micro Market Licenses:

    • For unmanned stores (often in office buildings) with self-checkout kiosks.

    • They offer both TCS food (time and temperature controlled for safety) and non-TCS food.

    Important Note:
    Equipment that dispenses TCS food must have health switches that activate automatically during temperature control issues or power failures.

    [CLICK HERE to download the complete guidance and application.]

Additional Information and Resources