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1. Who needs to get a food establishment license in St. Charles County?

Any individual, partnership, corporation, or organization that serves food to the public — regardless of whether or not they charge for their product — must apply for and obtain a food establishment license. Not-for-profit charitable or religious organizations, as well as educational institutions, may be exempt from fees associated with this process in some cases.

2. What are the steps I need to take to obtain a food establishment license?

First, you will need to contact the building and/or financial departments for your particular jurisdiction to obtain business and occupancy permits. If you are operating in unincorporated St. Charles County, you may visit the Community Development and Finance department pages of the county’s website.

Next, obtain a license application and Code Book from the Division of Environmental Health and Protection, which will explain all of the ordinances and requirements for food establishments within St. Charles County. Please note: there may be fees required to be submitted with your completed application. If you have questions regarding the Code or the application process, please call us at 636.949.1800.

The application forms may ask for the following information:

• The business’ Missouri State Sales Tax Identification Number
• The name, address and telephone number of the establishment
• The name, address and telephone number of the owner or corporation
• A copy of the floor plan, equipment schedule and other information about your establishment

Lastly, after receiving approval to construct the establishment, you must contact the division approximately one week prior to the date you wish to open — so that a member of our staff may complete the opening inspection. Failure to schedule this inspection without adequate time may result in unnecessary delays or last-minute changes to the facility.

3. I am purchasing an existing, licensed establishment. What will I need to do?

Please review the section above related to opening a food establishment and obtaining necessary licenses. These licenses are non-transferable, and the Plan Review fees are not pro-rated. New owners must apply for their own licenses and inspections prior to assuming responsibility of ownership of the establishment. Floor plan and equipment schedule submission are not typically required on these transactions, unless the new owner plans extensive remodeling or change.

Establishments currently in operation, which are free from any unresolved violations, may not require an additional inspection before opening under the new ownership. If there is an outstanding violation regarding facility/equipment repair, critical violations (please see the Code Book for explanations) or food safety certification, the new owner will be required to correct this violation and undergo a subsequent inspection before opening for operation. These matters will be discussed by the parties upon submission of the license application.

4. How often do food service inspections take place?

Division of Environmental Health and Protection sanitarians perform routine inspections throughout the year for licensed establishments. The frequency of these inspections may differ depending upon the nature of the establishment, its seasons of operation and other factors.

5. Are inspections announced and scheduled in advance, or are they unannounced?

Routine inspections are unannounced. Appointments may be made under certain circumstances, if there are special needs or if the establishment does not have a regular schedule of operation.

6. What is a food safety certification course, and where can I take this?

The St. Charles County Food Code required that all food service establishments employ at least one person during all hours of operation that has successfully completed a Manager Certification Course approved by the division. A widely recognized standard for food safety certification is the ServSafe™ Applied Food Service Sanitation course. Acceptability of comparable courses completed in other states will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Please call 636-949-1800 to discuss these opportunities.

7. What documents do I need to have on display during the year and for my inspection?

All establishments must display their St. Charles County Food License, as well as their most recent inspection and food safety certification course certificates for all certified employees in a prominent location for public display. These displayed documents must be clearly visible to the public. Owners should be prepared to match food safety certificates to current employee records upon request.

8. What if I have a question about my inspection?

Sanitarians are happy to answer any questions regarding inspection reports. Owners and managers are encouraged to discuss any issues or ideas during the site inspection or are welcomed to call the division at 636-949-1800.

9. Are food service inspection reports made public?

Yes. The establishment’s last inspection must be posted in a prominent location, so that it may be viewed by the public. In addition, Missouri’s Sunshine Law states that all inspections are a matter of public record and can be viewed by anyone. The Department of Community Health and the Environment publishes these findings at Know the Score and distributes them to local media as requested. In addition, many other documents (applications, ownership information, etc.) are a matter of public record as well. Individuals and organizations wishing to view these documents via Sunshine Law request should contact the division at 636-949-1800.

To recognize that food service facilities in St. Charles County place a high importance on customer health and safety, the Division of Environmental Health and Protection established its 24 Carrot Food Safety Excellence Award program in 2007. While all licensed establishments within the county meet necessary requirements to protect the ones they serve, these awards recognize the many organizations that exceed those standards.

10. I wish to remodel my establishment. Do I need to contact the department?

Plans for any significant change in the food establishment facility or equipment layout must be approved by the Division of Environmental Health and Protection. Fees for a plan review may be found online. For additional information or assistance, please call 636-949-1800.

11. I am selling an existing, licensed establishment. What do I need to do?

If you are selling your establishment, you should make the new owners aware of any uncorrected violations from previous inspection reports. These items must be repaired before a new license will be issued. It is also helpful to provide these persons with product information on the equipment in the facility, as well as the name of any service contractors that are familiar with the equipment history. You should also contact the Division of Environmental Health and Protection 636-949-1800 and inform us as to the change in ownership, so that your name is removed from our system.

12. What is a Frozen Dessert License, and where can I obtain this?

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services establishes regulations that govern all establishments that produce ice cream or dispense soft-serve custard, ice cream, ice milk or frozen yogurt.

13. What if my establishment wishes to serve liquor? What must be done?

Although the Division of Environmental Health and Protection will inspect all aspects of your establishment and bar areas must be included in the floor plan with your application, the division does not provide permitting for the sale of alcoholic beverages. To obtain this license, you must conform to all applicable local, state and federal liquor-control regulations. Please contact your local jurisdiction and the Missouri Department of Public Safety’s Alcohol and Tobacco Control for more information.