Overview
The Food Safety Program is primarily responsible to protect the community against foodborne illnesses resulting from health code violations and improper handling of food. It is responsible for inspections of food service operations, food vending machines, mobile food operations, and food establishments. Schools, daycare centers, restaurants, and hospitals are just a few of the areas inspected on a regular basis by this section. Thanks to the ongoing, highly professional service provided by registered sanitarians, the incidence of foodborne illnesses is minimal in the Franklin County community.
Things we do:
- License all food service operations and food establishments
- Inspect food establishments and food services operations
- Approve plans for all new and renovated food-related facilities
- Investigate foodborne illnesses and reports of contaminated food
- Investigate customer complaints
- Procure and analyzes water samples from food establishments/food service operations with privately owned wells
- Make in-service presentations
- Investigate reports of food related violations
- Inspect vending machines that dispense food products
- Inspect Micro-Markets
We inspect all food facilities within Franklin County and the City of Pickerington with the exception of the cities of Columbus and Worthington. Any restaurants within the city limits of Columbus or Worthington are licensed and inspected by Columbus Public Health.
If you need information about a change of ownership inspection, please contact the designated inspector.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the designated inspector, or email the Food Safety Section.
For food safety information after you’ve experienced a fire, click here!
📝 Please email food@franklincountyohio.gov
if you need a copy of your license renewal. 📝
2021 ServSafe and Level 2 Certification
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Food Safety Division will not be hosting any in person courses for the foreseeable future. Please see the ODH website for a list of approved providers.
Online Class and Exam is available at ServSafe's website. Note that with this class, the participant must submit a form for reciprocity to the Ohio Department of Health for approval and receipt of the ODH Certificate.
If you have any questions, please contact the Food Safety Program by calling 614-525-7462, or by emailing food@franklincountyohio.gov
2019 Food Code Updates
Inspectors and the Areas They Serve
- Dave Fischer
- Megan Freshkorn
- Mike Hils
- Inspector
- Marisue Madlener
- Al Nunez
- Tania Nur
- James Smith
- Karl Stichert
7:30 - 4:00
Cell: (614) 900-4429
Cities
Dublin
Villages
Townships
Perry
Washington
West Clinton
7:00 - 5:30 M-Th
Cell: (614) 301-1132
Cities
Hilliard
Villages
Townships
Franklin
Prairie
8:00 - 5:00
Cell: (614) 301-1125
Cities
Grove City
Villages
Townships
Jackson
Madison
Urbancrest
8:30 - 5:00
Cell: (614) 374-2499
Cities
Bexley
Grandview Heights
Groveport
Obetz
Upper Arlington
Villages
Townships
8:00 - 4:30
Cell: (614) 678-2131
Cities
Canal Winchester
Gahanna
Villages
Townships
Mifflin
8:30 - 5:00
Cell: (614) 603-0165
ALL SCHOOLS
Cities
Villages
Townships
Blendon
Brown
Hamilton
Harrisburg
Lockborne
Norwich
Sharon
Valleyview
Whitehall
8:00 - 4:30
Cell: (614) 653-2995
ALL VENDING
Cities
Westerville
Villages
Marble Cliff
Minerva Park
Townships
Clinton
East Clinton
7:00 - 5:30 M-Th
Cell: (614) 900-7189
Cities
New Albany
Reynoldsburg
Villages
Townships
Brice
Jefferson
Plain
Truro
Restaurants in Worthington are inspected by Columbus Public Health (614) 645-8191
Enforcement

The goal of the Food Safety Program’s enforcement guide is to have and maintain a progressive enforcement approach that includes outreach and education which ultimately ensures each facility is in compliance with the Ohio Uniform Food Code.
A facility may be placed into the enforcement program when there are critical or repeat violations that go uncorrected. If at any given inspection, uncorrected critical violations exist, a follow-up inspection may be performed. If at the time of the follow-up inspection, those violations or additional violations are present, the facility may be placed into the enforcement program. This may include increased inspections, an administrative hearing, or referral to the Board of Health for additional enforcement actions which may include suspension, revocation or placing restrictions on the food license.
Please contact the food safety program or designated inspector for specific questions regarding our enforcement procedures.
Licenses Types
COTTAGE FOOD ITEMS, FARM & FARMERS' MARKET INFORMATION
Definitions Cottage Food Production Operation This is defined in Chapter 3715 of the Ohio Revised Code to mean a person who, in the person’s home, produces food items that are not potentially hazardous foods, including bakery products, jams, jellies, candy, fruit butter, and similar products specified in the rule. These foods must be labeled properly or they will be considered misbranded or adulterated. Home This means the primary residence occupied by the residence's owner, on the condition that the residence contains only one stove or oven used for cooking, which may be a double oven, designed for common residence usage and not for commercial usage, and that the stove or oven be operated in an ordinary kitchen within the residence. COVID-19 Guidelines.
Includes:
- Bakery products (such as cookies, breads, brownies, cakes, pies, etc.);
- Candy (including no-bake cookies, chocolate covered pretzels or similar chocolate covered non-perishable items);
- Jams;
- Jellies and fruit butter, granola, granola bars, granola bars dipped in candy;
- Popcorn, flavored popcorn, kettle corn, popcorn balls, caramel corn;
- Unfilled baked donuts;
- Waffle cones;
- Pizzelles;
- Dry cereal and nut snack mixes with seasonings;
- Roasted coffee, whole beans or ground;
- Dry baking mixes in a jar, including cookie mix in a jar;
- Dry herbs and herb blends;
- Dry seasoning blends; and
- Dry tea blends.
A “Cottage Food Production Operation” is required to label all of their food products and include the following information on the label of each unit of food product offered or distributed for sale:
- The name and address of the business of the “Cottage Food Production Operation”;
- The name of the food product;
- The ingredients of the food product, in descending order of predominance by weight;
- The net weight or net volume of the food product;
- The following statement in ten-point type: “This Product is Home Produced.”
Cottage Food Products may only be sold in Ohio. Cottage Food Products that are properly identified and labeled may be sold directly to the consumer from the site where the products are produced; sold through grocery stores, farm markets, farmers markets; and sold and/or used in preparing food in a restaurant.
Exemptions: Exemption List Document
Farm Market - is a producer operated facility where fresh fruits and vegetables and other food items are offered for sale.
Farmer’s Market - a location where producers congregate to offer food items for sale.
General Information / FAQs
CDC Food Safety Recalls:
Forms, Other Materials & Additional Links
Complete List of Forms
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License Application
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Temporary Packet
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Temporary Delayed Payment License Application
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Temporary License Requirements
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Employee Health Policy Agreement
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Acuerdo de obligación de informar de empleados condicionales o empleados que manipulan alimentos
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Vending Machine Application
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Plan Review Requirements
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Plan Review Submittal Form and Fees
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Mobile Requirements
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Commissary/Pushcart Agreement Form
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Vomiting and Diarrheal Incident
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Cómo responder a un incidente de vómito o diarrea
Food Safety at Home
Additional Links/Resources
Other Materials
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Review of Food Safety Rules
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Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 3701-21 Food Service Operations
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Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 3717-1 Ohio Uniform Food Safety Code
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Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3717:RETAIL FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS; FOOD SERVICE OPERATIONS
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Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 901:3-4, Retail Food Establishments
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Risk Class Sheet
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Exemption List
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Food Safety Information After a Fire
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Food Safety Information After a Power Outage
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Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 3717-1 (March 2019) Ohio Uniform Safety Code
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HACCP Review Packet
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FDA Multi-Language Food Safety Posters
Food Donation
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Food Donation Guidelines: English | Nepali | Somali
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Donate Food Safely Flier
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Donate Food Safely 17 x 11 Poster