Why Food Safety Matters
Every year, millions of people get sick from food that was not stored, cooked, or served safely. Regular health inspections help find problems early—before they cause serious illness.
Our health inspector’s main goal is to protect the public by making sure food is handled safely and correctly. During an inspection, we check important areas such as safe food handling and storage, employee handwashing and hygiene, proper food temperatures, clean equipment and food surfaces, pest control, and overall cleanliness of the facility.
Any person, business, or organization that prepares or serves food directly to the public must be inspected. Inspection reports are available to the public available upon request.
The Pike County Health Department offers free monthly Safe Food Handling classes to help prevent foodborne illness. Even if your group does not need a food permit, learning safe food practices helps protect everyone you serve.
Permits, Fees, and Fines
All businesses and organizations that sell or serve food must have a Food Service Permit. Some permits may be free, while others require a fee.
If you plan to sell food, you need a permit.
If you plan to sell food, you need a permit.
New permanent food establishments seeking a permit must contact the health inspector directly.
Food Service Permit Fees
- Annual Food Service Permit: $100.00
- Temporary Permit (1–3 days): $10.00
- Temporary Permit (4–14 days): $25.00
- Seasonal Permit (6 months): $50.00
Food Service Fines
- Permanent facility operating without a permit: $250.00 per day
- Temporary food service without a permit: $75.00 per day
- No notice of construction or remodel: $100.00
- Permit application submitted less than 30 days before opening: $50.00
- Temporary permit submitted less than 5 business days in advance: $5.00
Follow‑Up Inspection Fines
- 2nd follow‑up inspection: $100.00
- 3rd follow‑up inspection: $200.00
- 4th follow‑up inspection: $300.00
If repeated inspections are needed to fix violations, the facility may be required to close until issues are corrected. A work order with the State may also be issued.
Food‑Related Emergencies
This includes events such as truck wrecks, fires, floods, or other hazards involving food.
- Emergency response: $50.00 per hour
- Failure to notify the Health Department: $150.00
- Failure to close during an emergency: $250.00