Restaurant permits — Ohio
The stack below is the state framework: the food permit, who issues it, whether plan review stands in front of your build-out, and the certificate layer for your team. Where Ohio hands a number to your county, the page says so and names the office — that honesty is the product.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Food service operation license | Issued at county level. Fee: Set by the issuing office — No single state fee — Ohio licenses through local health districts, which set the fee by risk class.. |
| Plan review | Required before build-out — drawings first, construction second. |
| Certificate of occupancy | Certificate of occupancy / certificate of use from the local building department is usually required before the food permit is issued; confirm zoning allows a restaurant use first. |
| Fire & signs | Fire inspection, fire-suppression (hood/Ansul) sign-off, and sign permits are separate and issued locally by the fire marshal and city/county — never part of the state food permit. |
| Grease / wastewater | Grease interceptor/trap sizing and approval is local (building/plumbing or wastewater); many cities also require a FOG (fats, oils, grease) permit and service records. |
Submit plans for plan review if new or remodeled → apply for the food establishment permit/license → pass pre-opening inspection → receive permit before opening
Food handler cards: no statewide mandate; local rules can still apply.
Certified Food Protection Manager: required — Level Two certified manager required per facility for Risk Level III and IV operations; Level One person in charge required on each shift. Accredited exam cost runs $36–$175. Ohio's two-level system (OAC 3701-21-25) replaces the single national CFPM model — Level Two is the manager-level credential.
Don't read the table — run your verdict. This stack, ordered for your format and space — plus the Cert Checker for your exact team.
Ohio, every door: Ohio hub · sell from home in Ohio · Ohio restaurant permits · Ohio liquor license · what it costs · your Opening Map
Included in the $49 Opening Pack: the filled templates, trackers, calendars and worksheets for this door — built from the same dated datasets as the free checker above.
The fee is set by the issuing office in Ohio — No single state fee — Ohio licenses through local health districts, which set the fee by risk class. Anyone quoting you a single statewide number is guessing.
At county level — the Food service operation license comes from there, and that office runs your pre-opening inspection.
Sources: Ohio Administrative Code 3701-21-25 via FoodHandlerGear Ohio rows. This row was compiled from the named sources; confirm final figures with the issuing office before you rely on them.. Dataset checked October 23, 2026. Where a fee or rule is set by a county or city, this page says so instead of guessing a number.