Whether building a new facility or remodeling an existing one, Chatham County Environmental Health staff will need to review all facility plans for approval prior to construction. Chatham County Environmental Health will review the plans simultaneously with the building inspections department. 

To obtain a Food Service permit, complete the following steps:

1. Complete and submit the food service application.
2. Submit a completed floor plan indicating the location of food service equipment. 
3. Submit equipment listing with equipment specification sheets correspond to floor plan.
4. Submit the food service menu.
5. Submit site plan indicating location of dumpsters, recycling, can wash, grease storage.

All plans must be fully approved by this office before a county or city building permit can be issued.

Once all necessary information has been submitted, the Environmental Health preliminary plan review process will be complete within 30 days of application submittal.

*New restaurant that is being built from the ground up, you will need to apply for a Commercial New Building Permit on the portal and choose New Building as your project type.  https://chathamcountync.portal.opengov.com/

When applying you will need to submit a Chatham County building code summary along with the building plans in 1 pdf file.

Food Service Change of Ownership

If no changes to menu, floor plan or equipment, new foodservice establishment owners may apply for a Transitional Permit.  The Transitional Permit allows new owners to continue to operate the food service establishment. 

Applications may be submitted via Open Gov Portal. 

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

The Environmental Health Division can be reached from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at (919) 542-8208.