Who needs a food establishment permit in West Virginia?

Issued by Your county or district health department, under the state food establishment rule (64 CSR 17), 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 West Virginia

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 establishments under the rule, which adopts the FDA Food Code.

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 or district health department, under the state food establishment rule (64 CSR 17).

Sources and dates

Office of Environmental Health Services food safety program; 64 CSR 17 (Food Establishments) and 64 CSR 30 (Fees for Permits); county health department fee schedules. Checked against the agency’s page on the date shown; cities add their own fees.

Questions about opening here.