How to Open a Food Service Establishment
In order to open a food service establishment in Clayton County
you must follow the requirements laid out in the Food Service Rules and
Regulations. The information provided on this section of this
site is a condensed version of the above code and is not intended
to replace the County Code in any way.
Our office has developed a brochure that summarizes what exactly is needed
to operate a food service establishment according to the standards
set out by the Georgia DHR and the FDA. Reviewing this brochure
should be your first step if you are considering opening a food
service establishment, it will help you in determining if it is a
feasible endeavor.
If you intend to re-open or operate a food service establishment
under a different name or owner, you will need to follow these
procedures. You will also need to follow these procedures for any
major modifications to an existing restaurant.
- Download and complete a Food Service Application
- Download and complete the Restaurant Plan Review Fee Schedule and the Restaurant Inspection Fee Schedule
- Download and complete the Existing Food Service Plan Review (pdf)
- Submit the above information to our office along with:
- A full menu showing all items you wish to prepare and
serve.
- A layout (2 copies) of the facility including all equipment,
floor type, ceiling type, and wall type (Example) on eleven inch by seventeen inch (11"
x 17") paper
- A letter from the Clayton County Water Authority Grease Trap
Program (770) 478-7496) showing that the grease trap is sized
correctly and has been approved
- Each new facility must have a Certified Food Safety Manager
(CFSM) on staff within ninety (90) days of initial permit issuance
(though we recommend obtaining this certification prior to opening
the facility) or termination of employment of its CFSM to employ a
new CFSM. You may obtain a listing of approved certification
organizations from the American National Standard Institute Web
site.
- If the facility is on a septic system you must get prior
approval from the Clayton County Environmental Health Office in
order to determine if the existing system has been sized properly
and no major modifications are needed.
- Once all of the above information is submitted to our office
the assigned Environmental Health Specialist will review it and
determine if any changes or additional information is
required.
- When the plans have been approved, the environmentalist will
inform you that the plans are ready to be picked up. You may
contact the environmentalist to schedule a Preliminary Inspection
prior to the Opening Inspection to ensure that construction is
progressing properly. Upon completion of construction, contact the
environmentalist to schedule the Opening Inspection.
- Once your facility has passed the opening inspection, you may
then take the information that is provided by the Environmentalist
and go to the Business License Office.
- Your Food Service Permit will be mailed to your facility within
approximately one (1) week. This permit must be posted in plain
view of the General Public at all times.The most current inspection
report shall be prominently displayed in public view at all times,
within fifteen feet (15') of the front or primary door and between
five feet (5') and seven feet (7') from the floor and in an area
where it can be read from one foot (1') away. Food service
establishments with drive-thru windows must also post copies of the
current inspection report so that a minimum of the top one-third is
visible through each window allowing customers to easily read the
score, grade, date of inspection, and establishment
information.
- The permit shall be the property of the Clayton County Board of
Health and shall be returned within seven (7) days to the Clayton
County Board of Health when the food service establishment ceases
to operate, has a change in ownership, is moved to another
location, or when the permit is revoked.
If you intend to open a new
food service establishment in a location that has never been a food
service previously, you will need to follow these
procedures.
- Download and complete a Food Service Application (pdf).
- Download and complete the Restaurant Plan Review Fee
Schedule and the Restaurant Inspection Fee Schedule .
- Download and complete the New Food Service Plan Review.
- Submit the above information to our office along with:
- A full menu showing all items you wish to prepare and
serve
- Two (2) sets of complete architectural plans for the
facility
- A letter from the Clayton County Water Authority Grease Trap
Program (770) 478-7496) showing that the grease trap is sized
correctly and has been approved.
- Each new facility must have a Certified Food Safety Manager
(CFSM) on staff within ninety (90) days of initial permit issuance
(though we recommend ontaining this certification prior to opening
the facility) or termination of employment of its CFSM to employ a
new CFSM. You may obtain a listing of approved certification
organizations from the American National Standard Institute Web
site.
- If the facility will be on a septic system, you must get prior
approval for the installation of the system from the Clayton County
Environmental Health Office.
- Once all of the above information is submitted to our office,
the assigned Environmental Health Specialist will review it and
determine if any changes or additional information is
required.
- When the plans have been approved, the environmentalist will
inform you that the plans are ready to be picked up. You may
contact the environmentalist to schedule a Preliminary Inspection
prior to the Opening Inspection to ensure that construction is
progressing properly. Upon completion of construction, contact the
environmentalist to schedule the Opening Inspection.
- Once your facility has passed the opening inspection, you may
then take the information that is provided by the Environmentalist
and go to the Business License Office.
- Your Food Service Permit will be mailed to your facility within
approximately 1 (one) week. This permit must be posted in plain
view of the General Public at all times. The most current
inspection report shall be prominently displayed in public view at
all times, within fifteen feet (15') of the front or primary door
and between five feet (5') and seven feet (7') from the floor and
in an area where it can be read from one foot (1') away. Food
service establishments with drive-thru windows must also post
copies of the current inspection report so that a minimum of the
top one-third is visible through each window allowing customers to
easily read the score, grade, date of inspection, and establishment
information.
- The permit shall be the property of the Clayton County Board of
Health and shall be returned within seven (7) days to the Clayton
County Board of Health when the food service establishment ceases
to operate, has a change in ownership, is moved to another
location, or when the permit is revoked.
Clayton County Board of
Health
Office of Environmental Health Services
685 Forest Parkway, Forest Park, GA 30297
Phone: (678) 610-7469 Fax: (770) 603-4874
