Food Safety and Sanitation

The Environmental Health staff ensures that food establishments regulated by the local health department are operated in accordance with applicable regulations and in a safe and sanitary manner to minimize the occurrence of foodborne illness.  Inspections of food service establishments include facilities such as:

•  adult day care centers 
•  adult living facilities
•  bars/lounges that do not serve food 
•  civic/fraternal organizations 
•  detention facilities
•  movie theaters
•  public and private schools

Each year thousands of people become ill following the ingestion of contaminated or unwholesome food. The need to prevent food related illness by regulating the sanitary practices of food establishments is therefore an important part of the environmental public health program.

Permit and Licensing Information 

• Opening a new food hygiene facility, reopening a closed facility, remodeling an existing facility, or converting the type of food establishment/changing the level of food service provided requires a plan review.  Please call our office for more information.  Plan review approval and a Sanitation Certificate must be obtained prior to initial operation.
• Change of ownership without any changes to a facility may be completed by filing an Application for a Sanitation Certificate.  Call Environmental Public Health Services at 850.892.8021 for appropriate fee amounts.
• Alcoholic Beverage Paperwork Approval - In order for Environmental Health to sign the appropriate section of your beverage license application, the establishment must first pass inspection by meeting all State sanitary requirements.  It is important to note that this office can only sign beverage papers for facilities that are under the jurisdiction of the Florida Department of Health within Walton County.
• Temporary Food Service Events that take place on properties regulated by Environmental Public Health Services need to notify our office prior to the event.  The Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) regulates events on all other types of properties. Contact the DBPR at 1.800.487.1395 or go to http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/ for more information.

Other types of food service establishments are handled by The Department of Business and Professional Regulation or by The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
For more information on food hygiene facilities in the State of Florida, please visit https://www.floridahealth.gov/environmental-health/food-safety-and-sanitation/index.html.
Downloadable Files/Links:
•    Application for a Sanitation Certificate
•    Food Hygiene Rule Chapter 64E-11, F.A.C.
•    Food Hygiene Statute Chapter 381.0072, F.S.