Food Sanitation

The Food Sanitation Program of the Environmental Health Division regulates food safety throughout Vermilion County. Following the guidelines of the Illinois Food Service Sanitation Rules, the Food Sanitation Program enforces standards related to the proper handling of raw or cooked food products, food equipment and food establishments.

The ultimate goal of the Food Sanitation Program is to ensure that food service establishments are operated in a safe, sanitary manner in order to prevent contamination by infectious agents or toxic materials. The Vermilion County Health Department does this by issuing permits to all food service establishments in the county, reviewing plans for new or extensively remodeled facilities, inspecting establishments on a routine basis, and enforcing sanitation and safety standards.

For more information on this program and about the Vermilion County Health  Department, please see the Annual Report.

Food Service Facility Routine Health Inspections

Click here to view Inspection Reports

Submitting a Food Permit Application or Complaint? (Coming soon!)

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Food Permits

Any time food is offered to the public, a food service permit is required to ensure safe and sanitary practices with food service, preparation and storage. Here is the basic breakdown of food service permit types:

Annual Food Service Permits

• All restaurants, retail food stores, mobile food services, and other types of food services which will operate on a year-round basis must obtain an annual, Class 1 food service permit. The annual food service permit fee will be based on the risk category or establishment type assigned to your establishment. Please see Service Fees for fee information.  A Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) must be onsite during all operations of food preparation.
• Permit Application for Permanent Establishments
• 2023 CFPM course list

Seasonal Food Service Permits

• Establishments and mobile units who operate less than 6 months out of the year qualify for a seasonal, Class 2 food permit. Common establishments to receive a seasonal food permit include concession stands, mobile food service, and ice cream shops. A Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) must be onsite during all operations of food preparation.
• Permit Application for Permanent Establishments
• 2024 CFPM course list

Temporary Food Events

• Whenever food is offered to the public during events such as fairs, auctions, fund raisers, public church events, and special community service events, a Class 3 Temporary Food Permit is required. Whether or not the organization is charging the public for the food, a safe and sanitary food production is key to a successful and healthy event. An educational inspection is required prior to the first event within a calendar year. See application for Temporary Food Permit Classifications and fees.
• Permit Application for Temporary Events
• Safe Food Handling Tips for Temporary Food Stands
• Sales of non-potentially hazardous foods such as cookies, brownies, fruit pies, cakes, and breads for a bake sale that is a fundraiser for an organization do not require food permits, but it is best to contact the Health Department beforehand to be sure. Clear and proper signage advertising what the fundraiser is for must be in conspicuous view at point of sale. For clarification or to discuss restricted food items within a bake sale, please call the Environmental Health Staff at (217) 431-2662 ext. 5

Farmer’s Market Food Permits

• Farmer’s who want to sell their farm-produced food items directly from their farm or at a farmer’s market, qualify for a Class 4, Farmer’s Market Food Permit.
• Any vendor who intends to sell outside of these parameters will need to pursue a standard Seasonal Food Service Permit.
• Permit Application for Famer’s Market

Opening a Restaurant?

• Please see Vermilion County’s Opening a Restaurant Guide for a quick reference prior to opening a restaurant
• If any new or remodeling construction/plumbing work is to be done within a food service facility (regardless of operational status), a plan review will need to be completed. Here are the items that will need to be submitted for full plan review:
  • Plan Review Application
  • Equipment list with specifications
  • Proposed Menu
  • Plan review fee, see Plan Review Application or Service Fees for fee information
• If you food facility is win the city of Danville, please contact the City of Danville Building Safety Inspectors by clicking here
• All plumbing work completed out of the city of Danville must contact the IDPH State Plumbing inspector for approval, (217) 278-5900

Do you work in a School or Daycare? Click Here

Home-to-Market Act; Cottage Food Registration

The Home-to-Market Act went into effect Jan. 1, 2022. The Act amends the Food Handling Regulation Enforcement Act to allow cottage food vendors to sell directly to a consumer beyond a farmers’ market. More information on Cottage Food Registration and Current Cottage Food Registrants can be found here.

As of January 1, 2018 the Illinois Department of Public Health is no longer the registrar of the Food Service Sanitation Manager Certification. As of January 1, 2018 the term Food Service Manager, FSSM, will be replaced with Certified Food Protection Manager, CFPM. New certification or renewal of expired FSSM certificate will be acquired by attending the classes that have been available in the past. The CFPM certification is achieved by attending an approved class and passing the proxy exam. The certificate issued by the exam provider, upon successfully passing their exam, will be the proof of certification and must be on record at the permitted food establishment where the certified individual is employed.