By regulating sanitary practices among food establishments, the Florida Department of Health in St. Johns County (DOH – St. Johns) Food Hygiene program is able to aid in the prevention of food-related illness within the community. This program ensures food establishments regulated by DOH – St. Johns are designed, built, equipped and operated in a safe and sanitary manner to minimize the occurrence of food-related illnesses.

Please note that DOH — St. Johns

DOES NOT REGULATE RESTAURANTS.

For more information regarding restaurant inspection and permitting, or to make a complaint against a restaurant or hotel, please contact the Department of Business and Professional Regulation at 850-487-1395.

Services Available

DOH-St. Johns offers the following Food Hygiene Program Services:

• Review of Permit Applications for regulated food establishment
• Regular Environmental Health inspections
• Investigation of food illness complaints
• Investigation of sanitary nuisances

Permit & Service Fees

Information on Permit & Service Fee’s is available by calling DOH-St. Johns Environmental Health.

Forms

Sanitation Certificates for Department of Health-regulated food hygiene facilities are issued by the County Health Department in the county where the facility is located.

• Chapter64E-11, Florida Administrative Code (PDF, <1MB)
• Food Service Establishment / Sanitation Certificate – Application (PDF, <1MB)
• Food Service Establishment Plan Review – Guide (PDF, <1MB)
• Food Service Establishment Plan Review – Application (PDF, <1MB)
• Preventing Food Contamination - Training Pamphlet (PDF, <1MB)
• Temporary Food Service Event – Application (PDF, <1MB)
• Time as a Public Health Control Guidance (PDF, <1MB)

When Applying for a Sanitation Certificate the fee is based on the type of facility you are planning — DOH-St. Johns can help you calculate the correct amount.

Additional information about Hygiene Codes and Standards is available at the The Florida Department of Health – Food Hygiene Codes and Standards.

Program Information, Statutes & Administrative Codes

Effective September 26, 2018, Chapter 64E-11, Florida Administrative Code, "Food Hygiene" was revised. You may find the updated version using the following link: Updated Chapter 64E-11, Florida Administrative Code              

• Rule Changes at a Glance
• Chapter 64E-11, Florida Administrative Code
• Section 381.0072, Florida Statutes
• 2017 Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Code
• Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Annual Editions (The 2022 FDA Food Code references - Titles 9, 21, 40, 50)

For more general information on the Florida Department of Health Food Hygiene Program, recent rule changes and other hot topics related to this program, please visit the Florida Department of Health: Food Safety and Sanitation Program.

To view the related Florida Statutes, please visit the Florida Legislature website.

To view the related Florida Administrative Code, please click on the following link: State Food Hygiene Code – 64E-11, FAC (PDF, <1MB).

Hard copies are also available for review at DOH-St. Johns Environmental Health Office.

The following establishments are routinely inspected:

• Schools (public and private)
• Theaters (that limit their menu to drinks, candy, popcorn, hotdogs and nachos)
• Detention facilities
• Civic and fraternal organizations
• Group Care Establishments
• Bars/Lounges that DO NOT serve food

DOH – St. Johns DOES NOT REGULATE:

• Restaurants
  • Contact: Department of Business and Professional Regulation
  • Call: 850-487-1395
• Hotels
  • Contact: Department of Business and Professional Regulation
  • Call: 850-487-1395
• Hospitals
  • Contact: Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration
• Nursing Homes
  • Contact: Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration
• Childcare Centers
  • Contact: Florida Department of Children and Families

**No state or federal regulatory agency licenses food operations from your home.**

For more information regarding restaurant inspection and permitting, or to make a complaint against a restaurant or hotel, please contact the Department of Business and Professional Regulation at 850-487-1395.

Most grocery stores and convenience stores in The State of Florida are regulated by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services . If you have a complaint regarding food safety and hygiene at a facility please call 800-435-7352.

Note: This page contains materials in the Portable Document Format (PDF). The free Adobe Reader may be required to view these files.