Licensing & Inspecting Food Facilities
On This Page:
- What Is a Food Facility
- Licensing a Food Facility
- Inspection of Food Facilities
- Food Protection Laws and Regulations
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.
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 Laurel Riek at publichealth(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: publichealth(at)lccountymt.gov
Submit by mail to:
Lewis and Clark County Public Health
Attn. Laurel Riek
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.
Submit a plan review application, plans, menu, and other items listed in the checklist below. Contact Laurel Riek for more information, 406-447-8361.
Guidelines (PDF)
Application Fees (Fillable PDF)
Application (Fillable PDF)
Checklist (Fillable PDF)
Changing Ownership / Significant Menu Changes
Operation Plan Review (Microsoft Word) (PDF)
Examples: Food carts, trailers, kiosks, and semi-permanent buildings designed to be readily movable.
Guidelines (PDF)
Application (Microsoft Word) (PDF)
State Law Regarding Farmer's Markets
Farmer's Market Exemption Registration
Fundraisers / Temporary Events
Application (PDF) (Microsoft Word)
Instructions (PDF)
Cottage Foods
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
Laurel Riek
Program Supervisor
1930 9th Avenue
Helena, MT 59601
406-447-8361
publichealth(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!