Food Protection and Facilities Section

Please click the links below to see inspection reports for facilities regulated and inspected by the Appalachian District Health Department.

Alleghany County Facilities

Ashe County Facilities

Watauga County Facilities

Before beginning construction, renovation, or operation:

Any facility that provides potentially hazardous foods to the public for pay must obtain approval from the Health Department prior to operation. Potentially hazardous foods include, but are not limited to, milk and milk products, meat, fish, poultry, cheese, raw seed sprouts, sliced melons, and a number of prepared vegetable products. In addition, plans must be submitted prior to construction or changes in the dimensions of food preparation areas, seating capacity, or the addition of rooms to existing food service facilities.

The following items must be submitted for review:

Buying, Assuming, or Re-Opening an Existing Establishment:

Any given restaurant may be operating with a number of equipment or construction deficiencies for which the management has elected to take point deductions on each sanitation inspection. If you purchase an existing food service facility that has such deficiencies, you may be able to obtain a “transitional permit” allowing you to continue to operate the facility. During the transitional permitting inspection, all existing non-compliant items will be listed on the transitional permit and must be corrected within 180 days, even those the current owner has elected to take point deductions for. Some changes may require the submission of plans for review.

If a transitional permit is issued, it will expire at the end of 180 days. At that time, all items listed on the transitional permit must be complete to obtain a full operation permit. If a full operating permit is not obtained, the facility must close until the remaining items are complete. A transitional permit can not be transferred, extended, or renewed.

Please note that only minor construction and equipment violations can be addressed on a transitional permit. If violations exist that would constitute an imminent hazard to public health, a transitional permit will not be issued and the facility must cease operation immediately. Likewise, cleanliness of the facility cannot be addressed on the transitional permit. Appropriate sanitary conditions must be maintained at all times of operation.

For further information on plan review and permitting of establishments, please contact the Registered Environmental Health Specialist in your county.

Plan Review Fees

Food Service Facilities: $250.00 (New construction or full remodel)

Temporary Food Establishment (TFE) permits are issued to vendors serving potentially hazardous foods to the public at a special event for up to 30 days.

Special events include fairs, festivals, public exhibitions, athletic events or agritourism. An Event Organizer must invite you to serve food at a special event before you are eligible to apply for a TFE permit. An example of an establishment not eligible for a TFE permit would be a food vendor setting up near a special event but who is not directly part of the event.

Potentially hazardous foods are those that are capable of growing harmful bacteria. Examples include: entrees, meats, shucked oysters, sushi, cooked seafood, sandwiches, cooked pastas, cooked grains, cooked legumes, cooked vegetables, salads, cut tomatoes, cut melons, seed sprouts, cut leafy greens, dairy products, cream or custard filled pies or pastries, etc. Any establishment (unless exempt*) serving these types of foods at a special event to the public must obtain a TFE permit.

* Non-profits that serve potentially hazardous food to the public for no more than 2 consecutive days per calendar month are exempt from obtaining a permit as outlined in NC General Statute 130A-250(7).

Vendors who sell only dipped ice cream, shaved ice, popcorn, candied apples, cotton candy, funnel cakes, doughnuts, peanuts and commercially prepackaged chips and candy do not have to get an operational permit from this Department. Although, vendors should contact the NC Department of Agriculture at 919-733-7366 to determine if a permit is needed from their Department.

Restaurants, Caterers, Mobile Food Units and Pushcarts – please be aware of the following:

Applications & Permits

Event Organizers must submit an application to our Department at least 30 days in advance of the event that list all food vendors (exempt or non-exempt).

EVENT ORGANIZER APPLICATION

Each food vendor is required to complete and submit a separate TFE application and $75 fee at least 15 days in advance of the event. Please be aware of the following:

VENDOR APPLICATION
VENDOR INSTRUCTIONS

Once the completed application and fee are received, an Environmental Health Specialist will arrange for a permitting inspection before any food may be prepared. All items must be in compliance on this inspection in order to receive a TFE permit.

Late arrivals to an event without prior notice may result in a permit not being issued.

Rules and Helpful Documents

Temporary Food Establishment Rules: Rules .2665 – .2669 

NC Food Code

Employee Health Policy

Vendor Checklist

The Appalachian District is home to many local groups and organizations that provide hope and a helping hand to those in need. Non-profit organizations such as churches, fire departments, and private clubs are exempt from obtaining a permit to sell food pursuant to G.S. 130A-250. These groups can sell food in conjunction with a fundraising event for a period of no more than 2 consecutive days, once a month. For example, if a church sells BBQ chicken on Friday and Saturday, they will not need a permit. However, if they choose to have another fundraiser on the last Saturday of the same month, they will have to obtain a permit for the second event. Please note that this does not apply to groups serving non-potentially hazardous foods such as baked goods, popcorn, cotton candy, drinks, snow cones, etc. For more information on vending these types of items, please contact the North Carolina Department of Agriculture at (919) 733-7366.

The Appalachian District can provide outreach assistance to these groups with information on proper food handling, good personal hygiene, and effective cleaning and sanitizing of equipment. If you have questions about a non-profit fundraising event, or if you are organizing an event that requires a permit, please contact the Environmental Health office in the county where the event will take place for more information.