Utah opening guide
Open a food business under the Southwest Utah Public Health Department
Permit steps, plan review and contact details for Beaver, Garfield, Iron, Kane and Washington Counties, read from the department's own pages.
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Food permit steps
The permit steps,
in order.
- New, remodeled or operationally-changed establishments must meet the Food Service Establishment Checklist before applying.
- Plans must be approved before construction; final inspection is required before opening (checklist page).
- Submit the Food Est. application and pay online at the department's payment portal.
- All food handlers need certification (approved course and exam) before serving the public.
Print it and tick each step as you finish it, so nothing is missed on inspection day.
Plan review
Send your plans
before you build.
Plans must be approved before construction, and you must pass a final inspection before you open. The department lists the plan review time as 30 business days. A new, remodeled or changed place must meet the Food Service Establishment Checklist before it applies.
Forms and guides from the department
The checklist shows what an inspector can check, so your plans match it.
Fees
What the department
has published.
As published on September 29, 2026 in swuhealth.gov/fees:
- Establishment permit, Risk Category 1 / 2 / 3 / 4: 220 dollars / 325 dollars / 450 dollars / 660 dollars
- Establishment plan review, Risk Category 1 or 2 / 3 or 4: 400 dollars / 660 dollars
- Mobile establishment plan review: 380 dollars
- Mobile establishment primary permit, Tier 1 / Tier 2: 350 dollars / 500 dollars
- Conditional permit for change of ownership (menu and operational review, pre-opening inspection): 220 dollars
- Food handler card (valid 3 years): 25 dollars
- Duplicate food handler card: 5 dollars
- Food safety manager exam proctor (includes 1 retake): 25 dollars
Fees change, and this list may not cover every case. For any fee not listed here, ask the department for the current fee, and read its food permit page.
See the daily checks that fill your binder while you wait on your permit.
Trucks and home kitchens
Not a restaurant?
Ask first.
Food trucks and carts
This department posts mobile food forms: Mobile Food Service Application (PDF, Sept 2026). Mobile food businesses follow Utah Rule R392-102, not the restaurant rule, so ask the department for its food truck steps.
Home kitchens
We did not find a home kitchen permit page for this department. Utah Code 26B-7-416 says a local health department "may grant" one, so ask the department.
Each guide shows the rule behind a check, so you know why it is asked.
Food handler permits
Every worker needs one
within 30 days.
In person at 620 S 400 E #334, St. George: English 1st and 3rd Monday 3:30 p.m.; Spanish 3rd Wednesday of Feb, Apr, Jun, Aug, Oct, Dec at 3:00 p.m. Or an approved online provider from epi.utah.gov/food-handler-training-providers/ .
Permit fee: 25 dollars (3 years), as published on September 29, 2026.
Utah Code 26B-7-413: finish approved training within 14 days of starting, and get the food handler permit within 30 days.
CleanCleaver keeps each worker's 14 and 30 day dates on one board, so nobody's permit slips.
City business licenses
The city license
is a separate step.
St. George
The city's business licensing page has an online portal and checklists for general, mobile and alcohol businesses. City business license page (read September 29, 2026).
Cedar City
Fill in the city business license form and return it to the Cedar City office at 10 N. Main Street, Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm. The page does not confirm the fee amount, so ask the city. City business license page (read September 29, 2026).
The checklist puts the city license and the health permit in one order.
Contact
Who to call,
and who they cover.
The Southwest Utah Public Health Department covers Beaver, Garfield, Iron, Kane and Washington Counties.
- Website: swuhealth.gov
- Food permit page: swuhealth.gov/food
- Phone: Main (435) 986-2580; Washington County food trucks (435) 986-2584; Iron/Beaver/Garfield (435) 865-5154; Kane (435) 296-5477
Your county health department has the final word.
Bring the checklist to your first call, so you ask the right questions.
Local suppliers (for information only)
Local suppliers
for information only.
Listed for information. Not a recommendation, and not a partnership.
- Comfort Systems USA Southern Utah, Inc., St. George / Cedar City service area. Offers: commercial refrigeration repair. (Read September 29, 2026.)
- Premier Pest Control, St. George. Offers: pest control. (Read September 29, 2026.)
- Bug Blasters Pest Control, St. George. Offers: pest control. (Read September 29, 2026.)
- Prestige Pest Control, St. George. Offers: pest control. (Read September 29, 2026.)
Whatever you buy, the app shows the daily checks it will need.
Sources and access date
Where each fact
came from.
Every fact on this page was read from the pages below. Rules and fees change, so check the department's page before you act.
- swuhealth.gov (read September 29, 2026)
- swuhealth.gov/food (read September 29, 2026)
- swuhealth.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Food-Est-App_2024-07-22.pdf (read September 29, 2026)
- swuhealth.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Mobile-Food-Service-Application (read September 29, 2026)
- swuphd.healthinspections.us (read September 29, 2026)
- swuhealth.gov/fees (read September 29, 2026)
- sgcityutah.gov/departments/community_development/business_licensing.php (read September 29, 2026)
- cedarcityut.gov/550/How-Do-I-Get-A-Business-License (read September 29, 2026)
- comfortsystemssu.com/reliable-commercial-refrigeration-repair-for-busine (read September 29, 2026)
- premierpestutah.com (read September 29, 2026)
- bugblasterspestcontrol.com (read September 29, 2026)
- prestigepestsgu.com (read September 29, 2026)
- le.utah.gov/xcode/Title26B/Chapter7/26B-7-S413.html (read September 29, 2026)
- le.utah.gov/xcode/Title26B/Chapter7/26B-7-S416.html (read September 29, 2026)
The final word
Your county health department
has the final word.
This page is information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change, and the Southwest Utah Public Health Department decides what applies to your place. Call 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.
Do I need plan review before I build in Southwest Utah?
Plans must be approved before construction, and you must pass a final inspection before you open. The department lists the plan review time as 30 business days. A new, remodeled or changed place must meet the Food Service Establishment Checklist before it applies.
Which counties does the Southwest Utah Public Health Department cover?
The Southwest Utah Public Health Department covers Beaver, Garfield, Iron, Kane and Washington Counties. Phone: Main (435) 986-2580; Washington County food trucks (435) 986-2584; Iron/Beaver/Garfield (435) 865-5154; Kane (435) 296-5477. Its food permit page is https://swuhealth.gov/food/.
How do I get a food handler permit in Southwest Utah?
In person at 620 S 400 E #334, St. George: English 1st and 3rd Monday 3:30 p.m.; Spanish 3rd Wednesday of Feb, Apr, Jun, Aug, Oct, Dec at 3:00 p.m. Or an approved online provider from https://epi.utah.gov/food-handler-training-providers/ . Utah Code 26B-7-413 says to finish approved training within 14 days of starting and to get the food handler permit within 30 days.
What does a food permit cost in Southwest Utah?
As published on September 29, 2026 at https://swuhealth.gov/fees/: Establishment permit, Risk Category 1 / 2 / 3 / 4, 220 dollars / 325 dollars / 450 dollars / 660 dollars; Establishment plan review, Risk Category 1 or 2 / 3 or 4, 400 dollars / 660 dollars; Mobile establishment plan review, 380 dollars. Fees change, so ask the department for the current fee.
Your binder is ready when the inspector is.
Pick your place. Start with one shift.
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