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Food Safety and Sanitation

Environmental Health Services

Restaurant Complaints

To file a Foodborne Illness or General Complaint about a restaurant, please visit DBPR – Division of Hotels and Restaurants.


The Environmental Health staff ensures that food establishments regulated by the Florida Department of Health in Brevard County are operated in accordance with Chapter 64E-11 Florida Administrative Code, 381.0072 Florida Statues, and the 2013 FDA Food Code and in a safe and sanitary manner to minimize the occurrence of foodborne illness. Inspections of food service establishments under this department include facilities such as:

  • adult day care centers
  • assisted living facilities
  • bars/lounges that do not serve food
  • civic/fraternal organizations
  • detention facilities
  • movie theaters (such as soft drinks, popcorn, hot dogs, etc.)
  • public and private schools

Restaurants, mobile food vehicles, and caterers not located at or within the facilities listed in Section 381.0072, Florida Statutes (F.S.) are licensed and inspected by the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR), Division of Hotels and Restaurants. For more information on these facilities, please visit Division of Hotels and Restaurants.

Grocery stores and food processors, or convenience stores not located at or within the facilities listed in Section 381.0072, F.S. are licensed and inspected by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Food Safety. For more information on these facilities, please visit Food Safety - Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services.

Foodborne Illness Complaints 

Each year thousands of people become ill following the ingestion of contaminated or unwholesome food. The need to prevent food related illness by regulating the sanitary practices of food establishments is therefore an important part of the environmental health program. If you feel that you have experienced a food related illness, please contact our office at 321-633-2100, or complete the Florida Department of Health's Online Food and Waterborne Illness Complaint Form.

Permit and Licensing Information 

Opening a new food facility, reopening a closed facility, remodeling an existing facility (under certain circumstances), or converting the type of food establishment/changing the level of food service provided requires a plan review. Complete the Florida Department of Health Plan Review Application Form and the Food Establishment Plan Review Guide and submit it with plans, supporting documents and fee for department review (details provided within the Plan Review Guide). Once you receive approval for your plan review, you must then submit Form DH4086 Application for Sanitation Certificate and appropriate fees to this department. Plan review approval and a Sanitation Certificate must be obtained prior to initial operation. Sanitation Certificates are not transferrable. Change of ownership requires approval as indicated above. Modifications to previously approved facilities must complete the plan review process prior to commencement of work.

Fees and Bill Pay 

Call Environmental Public Health Services at 321-633-2100 or email brevardeh.facilities@flhealth.gov for appropriate fee amounts.

Environmental Public Health fees can be paid in person, over the phone, by mail or you can visit our bill pay site at MyFloridaEHPermit.com.

Certified Food Manager Requirement 

Food establishments under the jurisdiction of the Florida Department of Health are required to have a certified food manager unless exempted by statute. For more information on manager  certification requirements and/or how to become a certified food manager, please visit https://www.floridahealth.gov/environmental-health/food-safety-and-sanitation/food-manager.html.

Employee Annual Training Requirement 

Florida Department of Health regulated food service operations must provide annual training for employees. It is the responsibility of the certified manager or person in charge to train or ensure the training of all employees under their supervision and control who engage in the storage, preparation, or serving of food, or cleaning of equipment, utensils, or food contact and non-food contact surfaces, and to do so in accordance with acceptable sanitary practices as described in this chapter. The trainings must be annual and provided to employees by March 31 of each year. Employees hired after the annual training has been provided for that calendar year must receive training within 30 days of being hired. The certified manager or person in charge must also maintain a copy of the establishment’s most recent regular food service inspection form provided by the department. Employees shall present this inspection form to guests or patrons for their review upon request. Review the Employee Training Guidance document.

Time as a Public Health Control Procedures 

Improper time/temperature control is a leading cause of foodborne illness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 3,000 people die each year in the United States due to foodborne illness and 48 million more become ill. Time/Temperature control is an important factor in preventing foodborne illness. Please review Time as a Public Health Control Written Procedures main requirements for both the 4-hour option and the 6-hour option for using Time Control Only to Hold Time/Temperature for Safety (TCS) foods.

Alcoholic Beverage Paperwork Approval 

In order for Environmental Public Health to sign the appropriate section of your alcoholic beverage license application, the establishment must first obtain a Food Sanitation Certificate as described above. 

It is important to note that this office can only sign beverage papers for facilities that carry a Food Sanitation Certificate from  the Florida Department of Health in Brevard County.  This department cannot sign beverages papers for facilities that are licensed by DBPR or FDACs as described above.

Temporary Food Service Events 

Sponsors of Temporary Food Service Events that take place on properties regulated by Environmental Health Services must complete the Temporary Food Service Event Application and the Temporary Food Service Event Sponsor Notification Form and forward it to the department for review with applicable fees (fee information located on form). Event sponsors are responsible for notifying all food vendors of the temporary food service requirements. Please also review the Food Safety at Temporary Events brochure for more information.

Individual Food Vendor or Booths operating at Temporary Food Service Events that take place on properties regulated by Environmental Health Services should complete the Temporary Food Service Event Vendor/Booth Notification Form and forward it to the department for review with applicable fees (fee information located on form). Vendors/booths are required to comply with applicable food service requirements in accordance with Chapter 64E-11, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.). Please also review the Food Safety at Temporary Events brochure for more information.

The Department of Business and Professional Regulation regulates temporary food service events on all other types of properties (those not regulated by the Florida Department of Health in Brevard County) within Brevard County. Contact the DBPR at 850-487-1395 or go to Guide to Temporary Food Service Events - DBPR for more information.

For more information on food facilities under the jurisdiction of the Department of Health in the State of Florida, please visit https://www.floridahealth.gov/environmental-health/food-safety-and-sanitation/index.html and for Food Hygiene Inspection Data.

Downloadable Files/Links: 

*Note: This page contains materials in the Portable Document Format (PDF). The free Adobe Reader may be required to view these files.