Who needs a certified food protection manager in Arizona?

Issued by Your county health department (Maricopa County Environmental Health Code, chapter VII), at step 4 of 6 in the opening sequence: get the permits for your kind of business.

9 of the 20 kinds of business in Arizona

Arizona has no statewide manager rule; the counties set it. Maricopa County requires every establishment serving open food that needs time or temperature control to keep at least one certified food protection manager on staff, with the person in charge certified and on site during hours of operation, and the certificate must come from an ANSI accredited exam. Pima and Coconino counties have their own versions.

Checked Oct 21, 2026 against the agency’s page.

Step 4 of 6: Get the permits for your kind of business

  1. Set up the business
  2. Register for tax
  3. Approve the space
  4. Get the permits for your kind of business
  5. Alcohol permits
  6. Before the first hire

Issued by Your county health department (Maricopa County Environmental Health Code, chapter VII).

Sources and dates

Maricopa County Environmental Health Code chapter VII (food employees and certified food protection managers); county food pages. Checked against the agency’s page on the date shown; cities add their own fees.

Questions about opening here.