{"id":5059,"date":"2024-03-06T13:52:13","date_gmt":"2024-03-06T18:52:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/blue-ridge\/?page_id=5059"},"modified":"2026-04-02T16:01:24","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T20:01:24","slug":"applying-for-foodservice-facility-permit-when-ownership-changes","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/blue-ridge\/applying-for-foodservice-facility-permit-when-ownership-changes\/","title":{"rendered":"Applying for Foodservice Facility Permit When Ownership Changes"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>When there is a change of ownership of an existing food establishment, the new owner must obtain<strong>\u00a0a Permit to Operate a Food Establishment<\/strong>\u00a0from the locality where the facility will be based before taking ownership. Per Virginia Food Regulations, new operators are to apply at least 30 days prior to opening.\u00a0 Permits to Operate a Food Establishment <strong>cannot automatically transfer from one owner to another<\/strong> without Health Department approval.<\/p>\n<p>New owners taking over an existing facility must submit the following documents to the local Health Department to apply for a permit to operate.\u00a0 <strong>New owners cannot operate under the previous owner\u2019s permit.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>STEP 1: Submit Annual Permit Application<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Go to the locality where the facility will be based and complete and submit an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/196\/Fillable-AnnualPermitApp.Stationary-Foodservice-Facility-Mobile-or-Pushcart-Units-Caterer-Application-1-508c.pdf\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Annual<\/span><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"> Foodservice permit application<\/span><\/span><\/a> and pay the $40 permit fee.<\/li>\n<li>In order to avoid submitting a Plan Review application and paying that fee of $40, complete the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/196\/ChangeofOwnership.Waiver-508c.pdf\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Change of Owner Waiver form<\/span><\/span><\/a> that states there will be no changes to the menu, equipment, and\/or facility.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>STEP 2:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Obtain the business license and Zoning Clearance issued in the name of the Owner of Record from the locality where the facility is located.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>STEP 3: Schedule\/Conduct the Pre-Opening Inspection<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Call the locality EH office where the facility is located to schedule a pre-opening inspection.\u00a0 These inspections are conducted by appointment only between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.<\/li>\n<li>The person in\u00a0charge at the time of the inspection must show a current\u00a0<span style=\"text-decoration: underline; color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/blue-ridge\/certified-food-manager-guidelines\/\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;\">Food Safety Manager Certification<\/span><\/a><\/span> for at least one employee with supervisory and management responsibilities and the authority to direct and control food preparation and service.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Once the EHS conducts the inspection and operation is granted approval, the permit will be mailed to the owner of record.\u00a0 If requested, you may pick up the permit at the local Environmental Health office.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When there is a change of ownership of an existing food establishment, the new owner must obtain\u00a0a Permit to Operate a Food Establishment\u00a0from the locality where the facility will be [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":216,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5059","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - 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