Eligibility requirements

• All people 12 and older are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine
• The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is approved for people 12 and older. The Moderna and Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccines are approved for people 18 and older.

General information

• The vaccine is free
• Your employer does not have to be licensed by the county
• You don't have to be a county resident
• You do not need health insurance
• You won't be asked about your legal status
• The vaccine is not required, but for your health and safety it is recommended
• Vaccines are offered at our community-based vaccine clinics, not on-site at your employer

Register for the vaccine

Registration is preferred. Limited walk-ins accepted. Register for the vaccine.

Hennepin County COVID-19 navigation line

For questions or for help registering, call 612-348-8900. The line accepts calls in English, Spanish, Somali and Hmong.

Other vaccine options

• Find and connect with local vaccine providers in your area: Vaccine Locator Tool.
• Your primary care provider.

Employee resources

• Hennepin County vaccine FAQ in English
• Minnesota Department of Health vaccine FAQ
• Centers for Disease Control vaccine FAQ

Employer toolkit

• FAQ for employers (DOC)
• Mailer for employees (PDF)
• Minnesota Department of Health COVID-19 vaccine employer toolkit

Letter template from employers to employees

• English (DOCX)
• Spanish (DOCX)
• Somali (DOCX)
• Hmong (DOCX)
• Mandarin Chinese (DOCX)

Mailer for employees (PDF)

Posters

8.5 x 11

8.5x11 poster – Butcher (PDF)

8.5x11 poster – Grocer (PDF)

8.5x11 poster – Restaurant worker (PDF)

8.5x11 poster – Waitress (PDF)

11x17 posters

11x17 poster – Butcher (PDF)

11x17 poster – Restaurant worker (PDF)

Social media

Sample text for Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter (DOCX)

Instagram graphics

Instagram – Butcher (JPG)

Instagram – Grocer (JPG)

Instagram – Restaurant worker (JPG)

Instagram – Waitress (JPG)

Facebook/Twitter graphics

Facebook/Twitter – Butcher (JPG)

Facebook/Twitter – Grocer (JPG)

Facebook/Twitter – Restaurant Worker (JPG)

Facebook/Twitter – Waitress (JPG)

Minnesota Department of Health COVID-19 vaccine employer toolkit

Hennepin County Environmental Health jurisdiction map (PDF)

For information or assistance, call each city's 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

Wayzata
952-404-5300

Calling your inspector

• When to call your inspector (PDF)

Daily logs and checklists

• Management checklist (PDF)
• Daily temperature log (PDF)
• Food service daily checklist (PDF)

Employee illness

• Employee illness log (PDF)
• Vomit clean-up procedures (PDF)
• Can managers talk with sick workers? (PDF)
• Minnesota Department of Health COVID-19 guidance library

Financial resources

• Hennepin County Economic Development
• Minnesota Employment and Economic Development (DEED)

Minnesota food code

See the recently revised and updated Minnesota Food Code (PDF).

Documents outlining the 20 major changes to the Minnesota Food Code:

• 20 Questions: The Major Changes of Concern to the Minnesota Food Code (PDF)
• 20 food code changes for businesses (PDF)
• 20 food code changes for businesses (Spanish) (PDF)
• 20 food code changes for businesses (Hmong) (PDF)
• 20 food code changes for businesses (Chinese) (PDF)

See a food code training video highlighting the 20 major changes to the food code from The Food Safety Partnership (FSP) of Minnesota.

• View the FSP video (YouTube).

Time as public health control 

This method uses only time to control the growth of bacteria in food and keep it safe. Normally mechanical temperature control is used (like hot holding units and refrigerators). Once you use time only, you may not place food back under mechanical temperature control to save the food and use it later.

You may use the time-only method for no more than six hours (and no more than 4 hours if the food temperature exceeds 70 degrees Fahrenheit).

You must have a written plan ahead of time, kept in the food establishment, and made available to regulators on request. Time as public health control written plan template (PDF)

For more on time as public health control, visit the Minnesota Food Code.

Plan review

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

• Plan review fees and application 2022 (PDF)
• Construction guide (PDF)
• Request for variance – Micro markets (PDF)
• Request for variance – other types (PDF)

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.

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, Richfield or Wayzata.

Applications

• 2022 Mobile food unit reciprocity application (PDF)

Short-term food event (ITIN) license

We issue two types of short term food licenses, regular and low risk. Please submit your application with payment at least 10 days prior to the event.

• 2022 regular short-term food license application (PDF)
• 2022 low risk short-term food license application (PDF) – Low risk foods are listed on page 2.

Additional information

• Guidelines for short-term events (PDF)
• Self-inspection checklist for short-term events (PDF)

Exemptions

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

Faith-based organizations serving food, holding fund-raisers or community events

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

• Faith-based exemptions (PDF)
• Legislative bill, S.F. No. 477

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)
• Other exemptions (PDF)

Vending machine license

To get licenses for vending machines, mail payment and completed vending application and fees 2022 form (PDF).

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

• 2022 HACCP Non-ROP plan application (PDF)
• 2022 HACCP ROP plan application (PDF)
• HACCP request for variance (PDF)

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.

This publication is written by Hennepin County Public Health Protection. 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.

2022

• April 8, 2022 – Raw oyster norovirus outbreak, Restaurant Revitalization Fund, Risk factor study, Statewide hospitality fee explained
• January 14, 2022 – MDA issues consumer advisory regarding sale and consumption of bushmeat

2021

Special issues: COVID-19

• November 22, 2021 – Food donation information for licensed food establishments
• September 29, 2021 – Food recalls and illness, Sanitization in kitchens, Assisted living licensing change, Visiting our office update
• April 16, 2021 – Food worker COVID-19 vaccine registration and employer toolkit
• March 17, 2021 – Executive Order updates, Waste prevention grants, Support for businesses, Business support survey results
• January 8, 2021 – Reopening indoor dining, Food business virtual training, Small business relief fund

2020

Special issues: COVID-19

• December 31, 2020 – Small business relief fund
• December 17, 2020 – Extension of 4-week pause and survey for food businesses
• December 15, 2020 – No late penalty fees for 2021
• November 24, 2020 – Dialing back, small business relief fund, virtual conversation for food businesses
• November 11, 2020 – Executive Order 20-96 and MN critical infrastructure guidance
• October 16, 2020 – Training opportunity for food businesses
• September 1, 2020 – Food establishment notice: State-wide compliance checks
• May 27, 2020 – Guidance on safely reopening businesses
• March 19, 2020 – Temporary closure of bars, restaurants, and other places of public accommodation