Utah opening guide
How to open a food business in Utah
The steps, the rules and your local health department, with where each fact came from.
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Steps for the whole state
The steps to open,
in order.
These come first, in every county. Steps marked with a note differ by city or county, so check with yours.
- Choose your path: permitted kitchen, home kitchen, or food truck. Each path has its own rulebook: R392-100 for kitchens, the home kitchen law for MEHKs, R392-102 for trucks. Source: Local health department Differs by city or county.
- Register your business name or entity with the state. A business name other than your own is filed with the state, with a registered agent. Source: Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code (Assumed name: within 30 days of starting business)
- Get a free federal EIN. Needed to hire, to run a partnership or corporation, and before registering for Utah withholding. Source: IRS
- City business license. Cities license businesses inside their limits. Home businesses may owe no fee unless they affect the neighborhood. A food truck's license from one Utah city is honored by the others. Source: City (or county if unincorporated) Differs by city or county.
- Health department plan review. Plans are approved before you build or convert a space: menu, volume, layout, equipment. Source: Local health department Differs by city or county.
- Food establishment permit. You can't operate without it. Apply at least 30 days before opening. Source: Local health department (Apply 30+ days before opening) Differs by city or county.
- Pre-opening inspection. The health department (and other required authorities) inspect before the permit is issued. Source: Local health department Differs by city or county.
- Utah sales tax license. Every seller with a presence in Utah needs one. Prepared food is taxed at the full rate. Source: Utah State Tax Commission
- Check the county restaurant tax. Counties may add up to 1% on restaurant food; sidewalk vendors count as restaurants. Source: Utah State Tax Commission Differs by city or county.
- Your own food handler permit. Course within 14 days of starting food work, county permit within 30 days; valid 3 years statewide. Source: Approved course provider, then the local health department Differs by city or county.
- Certified food safety manager. Pass an approved exam and register it with your health department. Renew within 3 years: state law says 5 in one section, 3 in another. Source: Approved exam provider; registered with the local health department Differs by city or county.
- Post your permit. Where customers can see it. Trucks: permit inside, decal on the outside rear. Source: You (permit holder)
Print it and tick each step as you finish it, so nothing is missed on inspection day.
Rules that apply everywhere
Three rules
that are the same in every county.
The 2022 FDA Food Code
Utah Rule R392-100 adopts the 2022 FDA Food Code. Read the rule (read September 29, 2026).
Food handler permits: 14 and 30 days
A food handler finishes approved training within 14 days of starting and gets a food handler permit within 30 days. Training is at least 75 minutes and an exam. The permit lasts three years and works in every county. Utah Code 26B-7-413 (read September 29, 2026). Take the training from a provider on the state's approved list; local departments accept only those.
A certified food safety manager
Departments such as Salt Lake County and Utah County ask for a certified food safety manager, and Weber-Morgan needs one full time for a restaurant that serves TCS foods. See the state's manager certification page. Each department page lists its own rule.
Each guide shows the rule behind a check, so you know why it is asked.
Local health departments
Find your department,
then read its steps.
Pick the department that covers your county. The table below matches every county to its department.
- Salt Lake County Health DepartmentPhone 385-468-3845. Food handler classes: No in-person classes in Salt Lake County. Covers Salt Lake.
- Utah County Health DepartmentPhone (801) 851-7525. Plan review, Category 1: 440 dollars (as published September 29, 2026). Covers Utah.
- Weber-Morgan Health DepartmentPhone (801) 399-7160. Food establishment plan review (new or extensive remodel), Risk Cat 1 / 2 / 3 / 4: 425 dollars / 675 dollars / 1,050 dollars / 1,200 dollars (as published September 29, 2026). Covers Morgan and Weber.
- Davis County Health DepartmentPhone 801-525-5120. Plan review (new establishment): 750 dollars (as published September 29, 2026). Covers Davis.
- Bear River Health DepartmentPhone (435) 792-6570. Plan review, Risk 1 / 2 / 3 / 4: 500 dollars / 600 dollars / 700 dollars / 800 dollars (as published September 29, 2026). Covers Box Elder, Cache and Rich.
- Southwest Utah Public Health DepartmentPhone Main (435) 986-2580. Establishment plan review, Risk Category 1 or 2 / 3 or 4: 400 dollars / 660 dollars (as published September 29, 2026). Covers Beaver, Garfield, Iron, Kane and Washington.
- Southeast Utah Health DepartmentPhone Price (435) 637-3671. Review restaurant plans / plan review (2 hour minimum): 162 dollars (+81 dollars each additional hour) (as published September 29, 2026). Covers Carbon, Emery and Grand.
- Summit County Health DepartmentPhone Environmental Health 435-333-1502. Food handler classes: Online courses. Covers Summit.
- Central Utah Public Health DepartmentPhone Sevier/Piute/Wayne 435-896-5451. Plan review: 250 dollars (as published September 29, 2026). Covers Juab, Millard, Piute, Sanpete, Sevier and Wayne.
- Tooele County Health DepartmentPhone 435-277-2440. Food handler classes: In-person class first Tuesday of each month, 4:00 p.m., Suite 140 at the health department. Covers Tooele.
Whichever department you have, the checklist is the same list of what an inspector can check.
All 29 counties
Which department
covers my county?
Find your county, then bring the checklist to your first call.
Contact these departments directly
Contact these
departments directly.
We have not verified enough about these departments to write a page. Their own websites are the best place to start.
- TriCounty Health DepartmentCovers Daggett, Duchesne and Uintah. Website: tricountyhealthut.gov.
- Wasatch County Health DepartmentCovers Wasatch. Website: wasatchcountyhealth.gov.
- San Juan Public HealthCovers San Juan. Website: sanjuanpublichealth.org.
While you wait to hear back, see what the daily checks look like.
Free checklists
Take the checklist
to your first call.
Free: the Utah inspection-ready checklist
Every rule an inspector can check, in plain words, with where it comes from. Print it. Tick what you have.
- Cafés, restaurants and other permitted kitchens (PDF)
- Food trucks and carts (PDF)
- Home kitchens (MEHK) (PDF)
- Church and community kitchens (members only) (PDF)
Pick your place, type your email, and the PDF downloads.
The checklist is free. When you open, CleanCleaver keeps the same checks going every day, with 25 days free. Cancel anytime.
Sources and access date
Where each fact
came from.
Read on September 29, 2026 from the pages below. Rules and fees change, so check with the department before you act.
- Utah Admin. Code R392-100, Food Service Sanitation (adopts the 2022 FDA Food Code) (read September 29, 2026)
- Utah Code 26B-7-413, Requirements for food handlers (read September 29, 2026)
- Utah Code 26B-7-416, Microenterprise home kitchen permits (read September 29, 2026)
- Utah DHHS approved food handler training providers (read September 29, 2026)
- Utah State Tax Commission, sales tax license (read September 29, 2026)
- Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code, register a business (read September 29, 2026)
Each department page lists its own sources.
See what your day looks like once the permit is in hand.
The final word
Your county health department
has the final word.
This guide is information, not legal advice. Rules and fees differ by city and county, so call your department before you build or buy.
Start your daily logs now, so your binder is filling before the inspector's first visit.
Questions
Before you
start.
Which food rules does Utah use?
Utah Rule R392-100 adopts the 2022 FDA Food Code. Mobile food businesses, microenterprise home kitchens and agritourism food establishments follow their own rules (R392-102, R392-106 and R392-105).
When must a food handler get a permit?
A food handler finishes approved training within 14 days of starting and gets the food handler permit within 30 days. The permit lasts three years and works in every county (Utah Code 26B-7-413).
Who gives me the food permit?
Your local health department. Utah has 13 of them, and each county belongs to one. The table on this page matches every county to its department.
Can a home kitchen sell food?
A microenterprise home kitchen needs a permit from the local health department. Utah Code 26B-7-416 says the department "may grant" one, so ask yours.
Your binder is ready when the inspector is.
Pick your place. Start with one shift.
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