Lewis and Clark County: Food Facilities

Licensing & Inspecting Food Facilities

Photo by Eliza Wiley, Helena Independent Record. Used with permission.

On This Page:

What Is a Food Facility

Definition: An operation that stores, prepares, packages, serves, vends, or otherwise provides food for human consumption in a mobile, stationary, temporary, semi-permanent, or permanent facility or location; where consumption is on or off the premises and regardless of whether there is a charge for the food.

Examples: Restaurants, catering facilities, bakeries, delis, coffee shops, bars, meat markets, grocery stores, convenience stores.

Licensing a Food Facility

1. Food facility fees.

2. Define your project.

Opening a new facility (either new construction or remodeling an existing facility)
Changing ownership or significantly changing menu

3. Plan your operation completely on paper and get approval from the Health Department before buying any equipment or materials. Contact Nina Heinzinger at PHLicEst(at)lccountymt.gov or 406-447-8361 for an appointment to discuss your plans.

4. Submit the required plan review information along with the appropriate fee. Make checks payable to Lewis and Clark City-County Health Department.

Submit by email to: PHLicEst(at)lccountymt.gov

Submit by mail to:

   Lewis and Clark County Public Health
     Attn. Nina Heinzinger
     1930 9th Avenue
     Helena MT 59601

Submit in person, by appointment: 406-447-8361

5. Review may take as long as 30 days.

6. Begin construction or remodeling after your plan is approved. When you're finished building, call 406-447-8361 to arrange an inspection and get your license.

Opening a New Food Facility

Submit a plan review application, plans, menu, and other items listed in the checklist below. Contact Nina Heinzinger for more information, 406-447-8361.

Guidelines (PDF)

Application Fees

Application (Fillable PDF)

Checklist (Fillable PDF)

Changing Ownership / Significant Menu Changes

Operation Plan Review (Microsoft Word) (PDF)

Mobile Food Units

Examples: Food carts, trailers, kiosks, and semi-permanent buildings designed to be readily movable.

Guidelines (PDF)

Application (Microsoft Word) (PDF)

Farmer's Markets

Farmer's Market Guidance

State Law Regarding Farmer's Markets

Farmer's Market Exemption Registration

Fundraisers / Temporary Events (Please submit at least 10 business days in advance of event)

Application (PDF) (Microsoft Word)

Special Events and Food Vendors (PDF)

Cottage Foods

Application for Permit

Administrative Regulations

Resources for Operators

Example Employee Health Policy

Inspection of Food Facilities

The Licensed Establishment Program of the Health Department inspects food facilities to ensure food safety. Focus is on practices that are most likely to affect food safety:

monitoring food temperatures
looking for sources of cross-contamination
observing hygienic practices of employees
reviewing general sanitation and maintenance

Food Protection Laws and Regulations

Montana Administrative Rules

FDA Food Code 2013

Nina Heinzinger
Program Supervisor
1930 9th Avenue
Helena, MT 59601
406-447-8361
nheinzinger(at)lccountymt.gov

2018 Gold & Silver
Fork Awards

Lewis and Clark Public Health recognized 59 food establishments in Lewis and Clark County on March 28, 2019, for their exceptional efforts to make, serve, and sell safe food to the public. Find out who they are!