Food, pools and lodging

Environmental Health works to ensure a safe everyday life and a healthy environment for all people by investigating, educating, and enforcing public health laws.

Hennepin County Environmental Health is moving to a software system that will allow business owners to view account information online, receive electronic invoices and make payments online.

To begin with, business owners will need to provide an email address. This will allow Hennepin County to begin the process of helping owners set up online accounts. In late summer or early fall, owners will receive an email with instructions on how to set up their online accounts. Provide your business's email address online.

If you have questions or need assistance, call 612-543-5200 or email epi-envhlth@hennepin.us.

Environmental health license fees 2025 (PDF, 1MB)

Open all

Plan review and licensing

Apply for a food license

Environmental health license application 2025 (PDF, 1MB)

Construction, remodeling and menu changes

Changes made to a current, proposed or previously licensed establishment require a plan review.

Change of ownership

A license is not transferable from one owner to the next. Begin the change of ownership process by completing the change of ownership form.

Vending machine license

To get licenses for vending machines, mail payment and completed vending application and fees 2025 form (PDF, 1MB).

Hennepin County Environmental Health may require up to 30 days to respond to plan review applications.

Cities with their own food, pool and lodging departments

Hennepin County regulates food, pool and lodging inspections and enforcement programs in select cities in the county.

Hennepin County Environmental Health jurisdiction map (PDF, 1MB)

Some cities are not regulated by Hennepin County. If you live in one of the cities below and need information or assistance, call the city inspection office.

Bloomington
952-563-8934

Brooklyn Park
763-493-8070

Edina
952-826-0370

Minneapolis
612-673-3000

Minnetonka
952-939-8200

Richfield
612-861-9870

Food establishment resources

Employee illness

Daily logs and checklists

Fact sheets and forms

When to call your inspector (PDF, 1MB)

For more information, visit the Minnesota Food Code.

Mobile food units, seasonal stands and itinerants

Refer to the Licensing Decision Guide to determine which mobile food unit license type you fall into:

Mobile food units (MFU) reciprocity license

Minnesota Department of Agriculture licensed mobile food units do not require additional licensing in our jurisdiction. We offer reciprocity licenses for Mobile Food Units that are currently licensed by:

The Minnesota Department of Health, or
The cities of Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Edina, Minneapolis, Minnetonka or Richfield.

Applications

2025 Mobile food unit reciprocity application (PDF, 1MB)

Mobile food units and seasonal stands

(Not currently licensed by Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota Department of Agriculture or one of the following cities: Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Edina, Minneapolis, Minnetonka, Richfield or Wayzata.)

Mobile food units and seasonal stands that don’t qualify for reciprocity licensing must go through a plan review process prior to the licensing process.

Special event food licenses

Submit your application with payment at least 10 days prior to the event. Additional fees apply after deadline. We issue two types of short-term food licenses, regular and low risk. Do not provide credit card information on applications.

2025 Regular short-term food license application (PDF, 1MB)
2025 Low risk short-term food license application (PDF, 1MB) – low risk foods are listed on page 2.

Additional information

Exemptions

These exemptions only apply if an event is held in the organization's buildings or on their property.

Faith-based exceptions decision guide

A certified food manager or volunteer trained in a food safety course must be there.

Tax-exempt fraternal, sportsman or patriotic organizations holding events at which home-prepared food is donated by organization members and sold

The event is not a circus, carnival or fair
The organization controls the admission of persons to the event, the event agenda, or both
The organization's licensed kitchen (if they have one) is not used in any manner for the event

School concession stands; fraternal, sportsman and patriotic organizations; post disaster service events

Review the Minnesota Department of Health guidance document (PDF, 1MB)
Other exemptions (PDF, 1MB)

Specialized processes

Request a variance

Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan

Hennepin County Ordinance 3 requires that the HACCP plan be submitted to and approved by Hennepin County Environmental Health. This approval indicates only that the plan complies with the provisions of Hennepin County County Ordinance 3 and Minnesota 4626. It does not guarantee that all hazards are controlled or guarantee a safe food product.

When required

An HACCP plan is required when:

A variance has been issued to the required cooking temperatures of raw animal foods
Curing or additives are being used to preserve food
Operating molluscan shellfish tanks
Removing the tags from shellstock
Using reduced oxygen packaging

Plan submission for approval

HACCP plan audits

Hennepin County Environmental Health will conduct on-site HACCP audits on an annual basis. Additional audits may be required if the plan provisions are not being correctly followed.

Food Digest

This publication is written by Hennepin County Environmental Health. It is for food service operators, restaurant owners and managers. It provides current food safety information that businesses can use in their food service operations.

Subscribe to receive the quarterly Food Digest e-newsletter.

Recent editions

Open all