What licenses and permits are required to open a restaurant in Kentucky?

Opening a restaurant in Kentucky involves obtaining several licenses and permits to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations. These permits and licenses are necessary to ensure food safety, public health, and adherence to environmental standards. The specific licenses and permits required may vary based on your restaurant's specific activities and location.

1. Retail Food Permit

• Purpose: This permit is issued to qualified retail food operations, including restaurants, to ensure they meet necessary health and safety standards.
• How to Register: You can apply for this permit through your local health department. More details on operating a restaurant can be found in this document.

2. Kentucky Request for Variance

• Purpose: This request is necessary for various types of variances including smoking of food, food additives, curing of food, sprouting seeds or beans, live shellfish tanks, reduced oxygen packaging, custom processing of animals, and acidified (pickled products)/special processes for food menu items. A separate variance request is required for each high-risk, special process.
• How to Register: You need to submit a “Request for Variance” to the Food Protection Program under the Kentucky Department for Public Health. More information can be found in this document.

3. Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) Plan

• Purpose: This is a management system that addresses food safety through the analysis and control of biological, chemical, and physical hazards from raw material production, procurement, handling, manufacturing, distribution, and consumption of the finished product.
• How to Register: If your establishment is conducting a food process that has a high risk of foodborne illness associated with it, you must have a HACCP plan and must obtain a Kentucky Request for Variance. More information about HACCP can be found in this document.

4. Environmental Permit

• Purpose: If your restaurant will produce air emissions, discharge waste water, withdraw water from a stream or groundwater, generate hazardous waste, or dispose of waste on site, it is possible that your restaurant will need to obtain an environmental permit or authorization prior to engaging in these activities.
• How to Register: Businesses are encouraged to contact the Division of Compliance Assistance to ensure that they have a comprehensive understanding of all of the permits or authorizations that may apply to their unique circumstances.

For more information, you can refer to the following sources:

• Kentucky Public Protection Cabinet
• Kentucky Department of Professional Licensing
• Kentucky Alcoholic Beverage Control
• Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings, and Construction
• Kentucky Department of Insurance
• Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions
• Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services
• Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet
• US Environmental Protection Agency

Learn more about local food delivery trends and insights:

• Food Delivery Trends And Restaurant Insights