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April 2025 Charles Harris, MD-Health Officer Procedure for Obtaining a Permit to Operate A Food Service Establishment or Food Store in Hamilton County, IN 1. Obtaining the required paperwork for application submittal: Forms as well as a complete list of submittal items can be found online at www.hamiltoncounty.in.gov or a packet can be obtained from the Health Department. The Indiana State Department of Health Retail Food Establishment Sanitation Requirements 410 IAC 7-26 can be obtained on the website. 2. Submit the following permit items to the Hamilton County Health Department: a. Application b. Certified Food Manager Certificate c. $150.00 plan review fee d. Proposed menu e. Floor plans showing location of all sinks, drains, and equipment f. Food establishment plan review packet g. Employee Health Policy The Hamilton County Health Department requires a $150.00 plan review fee in addition to the license fee. Please include payment for the plan review fee along with the application and plan review materials. The inspector will not begin the plan review process until this fee has been paid. Do not include payment for the permit fee with the application materials. Your inspector must give approval before the permit fee can be accepted. Once approval has been given, the permit fee must be paid at the Health Department prior to the facility opening for business. Please mail or deliver this information to: Hamilton County Health Department 18030 Foundation Drive, Suite A Noblesville, IN 46060 Upon receipt of these materials, a health inspector will review the submitted information to make sure that it meets state and local food codes. Please note the Hamilton County Health Department has 30 days to review and respond to the permit application materials. Once reviewed the inspector will contact you with any questions and to schedule your pre-opening inspection. 3. Pre-opening Inspection: When all equipment is in place and construction is complete, contact the health inspector to request a pre-opening inspection. When the inspector comes out for the inspection, she/he will look at the facility, the equipment, and go over the Food Establishment Plan Review Packet with the store manager. There should be no food present at this inspection. Food may only be brought into the facility once the inspector gives approval. Any items that are noted during this inspection must be corrected before the opening inspection and prior to a permit being issued. 4. Opening Inspection: Once all items noted on the pre-inspection have been corrected, schedule an opening inspection with your health inspector. Generally, this inspection is after the inspector has given approval for food to be brought into the facility and when facility is ready to be fully operational. Once all items have been found to be compliant and safe food handling practices can be demonstrated, the inspector will give permission to facility to operate. Prior to the food service/store serving/selling food to the public, the permit fees must be paid, and the permit obtained. ---PAGE BREAK--- 18030 Foundation Drive, Suite A Noblesville, IN 46060 Phone: (317) 776-8500 Fax: (317) 776-8506 5. Permit Fees: Health Inspectors cannot accept money in the field. The fee must be paid at the Health Department before the establishment may begin to sell food to the public. If found to be operating without a permit, an additional $100 fee will be charged for the violation. The permit fees are as follows: Food Service Fee 1-9 employees $200 10-20 employees $300 21+ employees $400 Bed & Breakfast $200 *The number of employees includes part-time, full-time, and seasonal employees. Food establishments opening after September 1st pay one-half of the license fee. The permit fee covers the calendar year in which it was paid. All permits expire December 31st of that calendar year. Renewal permit fees are due in January of each calendar year. 6. Follow-up Inspection. A follow-up inspection will be performed approximately two weeks after the facility opens to the public. This is to ensure the facility is adhering to all state and local food codes when fully operational. This inspection will place the facility on a routine inspection schedule. Questions? Please call [PHONE REDACTED] or email [EMAIL REDACTED] . All alcohol sales related questions should be directed to the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission at [PHONE REDACTED]. Food Store Fee 1-1,000 ft² $200 1,0001-8,000 ft² $300 8,000 + ft² $500