Food Service Plan Review

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New Restaurants (New Construction)

Apply for a Commercial New Building Permit through the Central Permitting Open Gov Portal and select Commercial New Building Permit. Upload the following:

Food service application
Floor plan showing all food service equipment
Equipment list with specification sheets
Proposed menu
Site plan showing dumpsters, recycling, can wash, and grease storage

All plans must be approved by Environmental Health before a building permit can be issued. Plan review is completed within 30 days of a complete submission.

Commercial New Building Permit

Change of Ownership

If no changes are made to the menu, floor plan, or equipment, new owners may apply for a Transitional Permit.

Submit through the Open Gov Portal under Commercial Alteration Building Permit.

Commercial Alteration Building Permit

Do you have questions for our Food and Lodging Program staff? Did you know that we offer in-office and phone consultations every Monday and Wednesday from 8:30 to 9:30 am. No appointment necessary. Just give us a call at 919.542.8208 or come by the Environmental Health office located at 80 East Street, Pittsboro, NC

For more information about food service plan review contact:
Lisa Morgan
Food and Lodging Program Supervisor
919.545.8309
lisa.morgan@chathamcountync.gov

Chain or franchise facilities

All chain/franchise facilities must have approval from NCDHHS, Division of Environmental Health, Facility Plan Review Unit (919-707-5854) prior to construction.

Environmental Health staff will conduct construction visits and issue the foodservice permits for all chain/franchise facilities.

Contact Lisa Morgan lisa.morgan@chathamcountync.gov or 919-545-8309 to schedule foodservice construction visits.

Plan Review Forms

Plan Review Resources

Outdoor Cooking Approval Process

A foodservice establishment may not cook outside on the premises unless an outdoor cooking approval has been granted by Environmental Health.

1) Submit Outdoor Cooking Application via Environmental Health Open Gov Portal.

2) Upload Outdoor Cooking Menu

3) Upload specification sheet for cooking equipment

4) Upload site plan with outdoor cooking equipment location

Before applying for an outdoor cooking approval, please review the guidance document

Conference of Food Protection Permanent Outdoor Cooking Establishment Operations

HACCP/Variance Resources

Some specialized food processes are considered high risk food handling such as curing, acidification, reduced oxygen packaging, juicing require a Variance and/or HACCP plan.

HACCP

North Carolina Food Code requires a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan for food processes needing more active managerial control during production. HACCP plans must be submitted to and approved by Chatham County Environmental Health.

Variance

There are also specialized food processes that need additional approvals. A variance to the North Carolina Food Code is required, which must be granted by the North Carolina Variance Committee.

When a variance is requested, the HACCP and Variance Application (NCDHHS Food Protection Variance webpage) must be submitted to Chatham County Environmental Health, who will forward it with recommendations to the North Carolina Variance Committee. The committee meets monthly; so please prepare plans and submit applications with enough time for approvals before beginning a specialized food process.

Not sure if you are ready to submit your HACCP plan and Variance application? Check out Association of Food and Drug Officials(AFDO) Retail HACCP Plan Review Service website.

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If you have questions about the North Carolina Food Code, HACCP submittal, or Variance requests, contact Lisa Morgan 919.545.8309 or lisa.morgan@chathamcountync.gov