Restaurant/Retail Food

Steps to Opening a Retail Food Establishment

Step 1.  Application. Fill out and submit a Retail Food Establishment Plan Review:  Brick & Mortar application or Mobile Unit application or Catering from a Commissary Application. Once complete, you can email the application to Environmental Health or submit it in person at the Delta County Health Department. If you are a mobile food establishment, or a caterer, you will need to provide a valid Commissary Agreement at the time of application. You will need a valid commissary agreement on site at all times. 

Step 2.  Plan Review Meeting. Are you ready to meet and discuss the details of your establishment? Call 970.874.2165 to schedule your meeting.

Step 3. Pre-Operation Inspection. Are you done with your plan review meeting? Are you ready for your pre-operational inspection?  Call 970-874-2165 to schedule your pre-op inspection.

The cost of the plan review is $155, due upon completion of the plan review meetings (see the Fee Schedule for more information).  Once the pre-operational inspection is completed and the fee is paid, the license will be issued.

If you're business is a ranch, please read the exclusion policy and Health Department memo regarding licensing ranches for manufactured foods/retail foods.

Food Manager Training

The State of Colorado requires that one person on staff, at all times, is qualified as a Certified Food Protection Manager. To complete this requirement, take the Food Manager course  and pass the exam.  This requirement applies to: all full-service restaurants, mobile food trucks, and licensed grocery stores with a deli. Delta County Public Health does offer proctoring services for State Food Safety. 

Email the Environmental Health Department if you have questions, or call 970-874-2165.

Resources

Additional information to keep your business running smoothly:

• Colorado Retail Food Establishment Rules and Regulations
• Retail Food Resources (including signs and logs related to food handling)
• U.S. Department of Agriculture Employee Health and Personal Hygiene Handbook
• Food Truck Guide  Guia de camiones de comida