Who needs a food service establishment permit in Kentucky?
Issued by Your local health department, under the state food code and fee regulation (Cabinet for Health and Family Services), at step 4 of 6 in the opening sequence: get the permits for your kind of business.
Submit plans to the local health department before building out or converting a space, pass the opening inspection, then post the permit. Restaurants, bars, coffee shops, bakeries and ice cream shops are all food service establishments under the code; a shop that also sells packaged food pays the retail food store fee by square footage as well. Ask your local health department for its current invoice before budgeting; the state tiers come from the regulation and local add-ons differ.
Checked Oct 21, 2026 against the agency’s page.
Step 4 of 6: Get the permits for your kind of business
1Set up the business
2Register for tax
3Approve the space
4Get the permits for your kind of business
5Alcohol permits
6Before the first hire
Issued by Your local health department, under the state food code and fee regulation (Cabinet for Health and Family Services).
Sources and dates
902 KAR 45:110 (permits and fees for retail food establishments); 902 KAR 45:005 (Kentucky food code); Louisville Metro public health fee schedule. Checked against the agency’s page on the date shown; cities add their own fees.
Questions about opening here.
Yes. Submit plans to the local health department before building out or converting a space, pass the opening inspection, then post the permit.
Yes. Submit plans to the local health department before building out or converting a space, pass the opening inspection, then post the permit.
Yes. Submit plans to the local health department before building out or converting a space, pass the opening inspection, then post the permit.
Yes. Submit plans to the local health department before building out or converting a space, pass the opening inspection, then post the permit.
Yes. Submit plans to the local health department before building out or converting a space, pass the opening inspection, then post the permit.
Yes. Submit plans to the local health department before building out or converting a space, pass the opening inspection, then post the permit.
Yes. Submit plans to the local health department before building out or converting a space, pass the opening inspection, then post the permit.
Yes. Submit plans to the local health department before building out or converting a space, pass the opening inspection, then post the permit.
Yes. Submit plans to the local health department before building out or converting a space, pass the opening inspection, then post the permit.
No. In Kentucky it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Kentucky it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Kentucky it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Kentucky it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Kentucky it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Kentucky it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Kentucky it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Kentucky it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Kentucky it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Kentucky it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Kentucky it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
Your local health department, under the state food code and fee regulation (Cabinet for Health and Family Services).
Step 4 of 6, get the permits for your kind of business. The steps before it: set up the business, register for tax and approve the space.
Who needs a food service establishment permit in Kentucky?
