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Food Safety and Sanitation

Environmental Health

The Environmental Public Health staff ensures that food establishments regulated by the local county 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 food. The need to prevent food related illness by regulating the sanitary practices of food establishments is 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.

  • Application for a sanitation certificate - 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 Program at 850-892-8021 for appropriate fee amounts.
  • Alcoholic beverage paperwork approval - In order for Environmental Public Health Program to sign the appropriate section of your beverage license application, the establishment must first pass inspection by meeting Florida's sanitary requirements. 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 Program must notify our office prior to the event. The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (800-487-1395) regulates events on all other types of properties. 

Other types of food service establishments are handled by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation or Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

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