| Food, Lodging, and Institutions Program |
The Carteret County Food, Lodging and Institutions Program ensures the public of safe and sanitary food service establishments and other establishments including lodging facilities, adult care centers, seasonal camps, confinement and nursing care facilities. Environmental Health Specialists perform health inspections of regulated establishments, review plans for proposed establishments, and issue permits for new establishments and those that change ownership as required by state and local law.
The program also provides food safety education for food service managers and employees and is an active participant in the Public Health Preparedness Team for disease outbreak investigations, disaster response and bioterrorism response.
How to Apply for Permits
Permitted Establishments
Permits are required for new establishments and establishments that change ownership. To obtain a permit, establishments must be incompliance with the current state rules. The following establishments are required to be permitted through the local health department:
| Restaurants |
Commissaries |
Hotels and Motels |
| Food or Drink Stands |
Athletic Concession Stands |
Bed and Breakfast Homes/Inns |
| Hot Dog Push Carts |
Festival Concession Stands |
Resident Camps |
| Elderly Nutrition Sites |
Mobile Food Units |
Primitive Camps |
*If the proposed establishment is on a septic system, a septic system application is also required. It is advisable to get an existing septic system approved for the proposed use prior to starting the plan review process as not all existing systems can accommodate a change of use.
Food Service Establishments
Plan Review for Food Service
Plans for food service facilities, other than “franchise” or “chain” establishments, and a food service plan review application must be submitted to the local health department for approval prior to beginning construction of a new establishment or prior to making changes to the food service area of an existing establishment.
Plans submitted to Carteret County Environmental Health must include:
- a completed Carteret County Environmental Health food service application including a $200.00 plan review fee
- menu
- equipment, plumbing and lighting layouts
- equipment specifications, such as make and model numbers
- information on private well and septic system, if applicable
Plans for “franchised” and “chain” establishments must be submitted to the state along with a state plan review application.
Plans are reviewed in accordance with the North Carolina Rules Governing the Sanitation of Food Service Establishments 15A NCAC 18A .2600. Other agencies such as local building inspection departments and North Carolina Division of Facility Services may also require plans.
Transitional Permits
An existing food service establishment that changes ownership may apply for a transitional permit if the existing establishment has a valid permit. A transitional permit allows a food service establishment to operate for 180 days until the establishment is in compliance with the
current state rules and can obtain a regular permit.
The establishment is evaluated to see if a transitional permit can be issued and a list of items that need to be brought into compliance is given to the owner. The owner must complete these non-compliant items within the period specified by the transitional permit. Transitional permits automatically expire and cannot be extended or renewed. It is important to complete the items on time to prevent closure of the establishment. To request a transitional permit, contact the Carteret County Environmental Health Division to set an appointment for a site visit and complete a food service establishment application.
Temporary Food Establishments for Festivals and Events
Temporary Food Service Establishments (TFE) are defined as "those food or drink establishments which operate for a period of 15 days or less, in connection with a fair, carnival, circus, public exhibition, or other similar gathering." Non-profit and political organizations are exempt from permit requirements if food is only prepared and sold for two consecutive days or less during any one month period. The Health Department should be notified when exempt organizations intend to sell food to the public so that the department will be aware of these food handling activities.
TFE’s must be permitted before food can be prepared or served. Temporary Food Service Establishments must complete and submit thetemporary food establishment applicationand contact Environmental Health to set a time for the establishment to be permitted prior to opening. Permitting of Temporary Food Service Establishments is in accordance with the North Carolina Rules Governing the Sanitation of Food Service Establishments 15A NCAC 18A .2600 SECTION .2645.
Push Cart and Mobile Food Unit's
Push carts and mobile food units must operated in conjunction with a permitted establishment such as a restaurant, food stand or commissary. They are issued food service permit through the local health department that permitted the restaurant or commissary from which the pushcart or mobile food unit is to operate. The Health Department serving the county where the pushcart or mobile food unit intends to operate must be informed of the times and places the business will be open.
A Food Service application and a
Push Cart and Mobile Food Unit Servicing Operations Approval must be submitted to apply for a pushcart or mobile food unit permit. Push carts and mobile food units are permitted in accordance with the North Carolina Rules Governing the Sanitation of Food Service Establishments 15A NCAC 18A .2600. See sections .2638, .2639, and .2640.
Limited Food Service Establishments Concession Stands
A Limited Food Service Establishment (LSFE) operates only in conjunction with an athletic event with food prepared and served by volunteers. This includes school and park concession stands run by parents and other volunteers. The LSFE must be in compliance with the North Carolina Rules Governing the Sanitation of Food service Establishments.
A LFSE permit application must be submitted to Carteret County Health Department at least four (4) weeks prior to initial construction or commencement of operation for the year. New construction must also go thru plan review and approval before construction. Permits expire on December 31 of each year. Due to this, some sports, such as basketball, may require a new permit early in January during the rest of their season. |
Lodging Facility
Plan Review for Lodging Facilities
In accordance with the North Carolina Rules Governing the Sanitation of Lodging Facilities 15A NCAC 18A .1800, plans must be submitted to the local health department for approval prior to beginning construction of a new establishment or making changes to an existing establishment. Plans for a franchised establishment must be submitted to the State as well as the local health department.
Plans submitted to Carteret County Environmental Health must include:
- a completed Carteret County Environmental Health lodging application
- equipment, plumbing and lighting layouts
- information on private well and septic system, if applicable
Plans for "chain" or "franchise" establishments must be submitted for review to the Environmental Health Services plan review section in Raleigh. For state information on state plan review click here. Plans may also be required by other agencies such as local building inspections.
Transitional Permits for Lodging Facilities
An existing establishment that changes ownership may apply for a transitional permit if the existing establishment has a valid permit. A transitional permit allows a lodging establishment to operate for a 90 day period until it is in compliance with the current state rules and can obtain a regular permit.
The establishment is evaluated to see if a transitional permit can be issued and a list of items that need to be brought into compliance is given to the owner. The owner must complete these non-compliant items within the 90 day period specified by the transitional permit. Transitional permits automatically expire and cannot be extended or renewed. It is important to complete the items on time to prevent closure of the establishment. To obtain a transitional permit, contact the Carteret County Environmental Health Division to set an appointment for a site visit and complete a transitional permit application for lodging establishments. |
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Child Care Centers
Plan Review
In accordance with the North Carolina Rules Governing the Sanitation of Child Care Centers 15A NCAC 18A .2800, plans must be submitted to the local health department for approval prior to beginning construction of a new center or making changes to an existing center. Plans for "chain" or "franchised" center must be submitted to the State.
Plans submitted to Carteret County Environmental Health must include:
- a completed Carteret County Environmental Health child care establishment application
- menu, if providing food service
- equipment, plumbing and lighting layouts
- equipment specifications for food service equipment
- information on private well and septic system, if applicable
Plans for "chain" or "franchise" establishments must be submitted for review to DENR, Division of Environmental Health, Environmental Health Services Section, Children's Environmental Health Branch. For state applications and information click here.
Plans may also be required by other agencies such as building inspections and North Carolina Division of Children & Youth.
Food Safety Education
The Food, Lodging, and Institutions Program offers the ServSafe course and food safety in-services to food service establishments and institutions. The course provides information on basic food safety, personnel, HACCP, receiving, storage, food preparation and service, facilities and equipment, cleaning and sanitizing, pest control, and regulatory agencies and inspections. There is an exam at the end which must be passed in order to obtain a certificate.
The ServSafe course is in English, however, the test can be ordered in Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, French Canadian and large print. ServSafe texts are now available in Spanish and Chinese in addition to English. Registration forms for the course are sent out to all food service establishments approximately four weeks before the course date. Upcoming course dates for ServSafe will be posted on our website.
A ServSafe course that includes at least 12 class room hours is approved by the State of North Carolina for food service education and for the 2 point bonus incentive for eligible food service establishments. Eligible food service establishments are limited to establishments regulated by the North Carolina Rules Governing the Sanitation of Food Service Establishments 15A NCAC 18A .2600.
An establishment can receive a credit of two points on its sanitation score for each inspection if:
- a manager or other employee responsible for the food service operation of that establishment attends and passes an approved course; and
- is employed full time in that particular establishment; and
- has completed and passed the course within the past three years
Web based on-line ServSafe courses are not approved to receive the 2 point bonus due to the class room hours required. Contact Environmental Health to find out if a food service course is approved or for a listing of the approved courses.
Forms and Applications
Food Service
Lodging
Child Care Centers
- Child Care Plan Review Application
Institutions
Administrative Rules
Links
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