[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-496020-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":81,"doc-detail-496020-en":130},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":74,"head_meta":76,"extra_data":78,"updated_unix":80},105,"en","procedures-for-opening-a-retail-food-service-facility-required-steps-and-documentation-burlington-county-health-department","PROCEDURES FOR OPENING A RETAIL FOOD SERVICE FACILITY - Required Steps and Documentation (Burlington County Health Department)","","Procedures for opening a retail food service facility in Burlington County outline required application submission, documentation, and fees for new establishments and alterations, including non-profit fee waivers. The process covers facility plan submittals under N.J.A.C. 8:24 sanitation requirements, municipal coordination, plan review timelines, approval letter handling, construction permitting, and pre-opening inspections. It also specifies installation readiness, prohibited on-site refrigeration/freezer requirements at inspection, required plumbing/electrical/fire inspections, inspection reporting, occupancy certification, and food handler licensing where required.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/healthcare/","Healthcare",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/procedures-for-opening-a-retail-food-service-facility-required-steps-and-documentation-burlington-county-health-department/496020/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/procedures-for-opening-a-retail-food-service-facility-required-steps-and-documentation-burlington-county-health-department/496020.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":42,"@type":43},"awa","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-11-09","2026-10-02",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",7,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"What application and fee are required to open a retail food service facility in Burlington County?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"Complete the attached retail food service application and return it with all required documentation listed on the form. Submit a $100 fee for a new establishment or $75 for alterations, payable to BCHD; the fee is waived for non-profit organizations.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"How long does plan review take after submitting the application?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"Plan reviews are conducted by a licensed inspector (REHS). Within 30 business days, the REHS reviews the application and responds; additional information requests can extend beyond 30 business days.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"What must be true before the pre-opening inspection is scheduled and performed?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"Schedule the pre-opening inspection with at least 3 business days’ notice. Prior to the inspection, clean up or remove construction equipment and debris, ensure all relevant equipment is installed and ready, and complete any stipulations noted on the approval letter; no refrigerated or freezer-temperature food should be on site.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},496020,1791604861,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,88,92,96,101,106,109,114,119,122,126],{"id":22,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":85,"show_sort_weight":86,"slug":87},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":26,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":89,"show_sort_weight":90,"slug":91},"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":33,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":93,"show_sort_weight":94,"slug":95},"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":97,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":98,"show_sort_weight":99,"slug":100},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":102,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":103,"show_sort_weight":104,"slug":105},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":55,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":107,"slug":108},40,"healthcare",{"id":110,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":111,"show_sort_weight":112,"slug":113},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":115,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":116,"show_sort_weight":117,"slug":118},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":117,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":120,"show_sort_weight":117,"slug":121},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":123,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":124,"show_sort_weight":123,"slug":125},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":127,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":128,"show_sort_weight":97,"slug":129},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":131},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":132,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":133,"doc_module":4,"category_id":55,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":33,"language":139,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":140,"faqs":141,"seo_title":142,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":143,"read_time":123,"preview_page_count":4},3985747858093,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_3d24733baf745e90a7e4bdd5f77d97b2","BURLINGTON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT  \n15 PIONEER BOULEVARD | P.O. BOX 6000 | WESTAMPTON NJ 08060 PHONE: 609-265-5515 FAX: 609-265-5541  \nPROCEDURES FOR OPENING A RETAIL FOOD SERVICE FACILITY  \nTo open a Food Establishment in Burlington County, the following steps are required:  \n•An application for a retail food service facility (attached) must be completed and returned to the Burlington County Health Department (BCHD) with all required documentation, listed on the bottom of the application, along with a $100.00 fee for a new establishment and $ 75.00 for alterations-payable to BCHD.  \n(The fee is waived for Non-Profit Organizations)  \n• Facility plan submittals shall be in accordance with State regulation N.J.A.C. 8:24-Sanitation in Retail Food Establishments (Chapter 24). The Code may be obtained by calling BCHD or through our website:  \n[http://www.co.burlington.nj.us/departments/health](http://www.co.burlington.nj.us/departments/health)  \n• Applicants shall also check with the local municipality, where the proposed establishment is located, for their specific requirements.  \n• Plan reviews will be conducted by a licensed inspector (REHS) . Within 30 business days a REHS will review the application and respond accordingly. If additional information is needed after the initial review, this could extend past the 30 business days. Once all information is submitted and plan review is complete, an approval letter will be mailed, faxed, emailed or available to be picked up at the Health Department by the business owner or authorized agent.  \n• The approval letter is also provided by BCHD to the city or township where the business is located and permits will then be issued for construction by the township.  \n• Once construction is complete, the business owner or authorized agent shall contact the REHS to schedule a preopening inspection. (A minimum of 3 business days’ notice) Prior to the pre-opening inspection, all construction equipment and debris is to be cleaned up and/or removed from the premises. All equipment including refrigerators, freezers, warming units, sinks, ice machines, sanitizer for ware washing, etc. shall be installed, turned on and ready to be inspected. Any stipulations noted on the approval letter shall be completed and in compliance prior to the pre-opening. There shall be NO food requiring refrigeration or freezer temperatures on site at a pre-opening inspection. Shelf-stable products, cleaning products and paper products can be brought in prior to a pre-opening inspection.  \n• Plumbing, electrical, and fire inspections are required by local municipalities-the owner or authorized agent of the establishment shall contact the appropriate officials to schedule inspections prior to opening.  \n• Once the pre-opening inspection is completed and found to be in compliance, a written inspection report and satisfactory evaluation placard will be issued to the business owner or agent, who in turn provides copies of thereport to the local construction code official. The construction code official will then issue a final certificate of occupancy (CO), after also complying with their requirements.  \n• A food handler license or permit (if required) is to be obtained from the city or township where the business is located.  \n• Additionally, a nationally recognized exam for a Food Protection Managers Certificate (FPMC)is required for all Risk 3 establishments in Burlington County, as well as Risk 2 establishments in townships which have a local ordinance. NOTE: Townships which require a FPMC for risk levels 2 and up are: Beverly, Chesterfield, Cinnaminson, Evesham, Lumberton, Maple Shade, Moorestown, Palmyra, Pemberton Borough, Southampton and Westampton  \n(ANSI accredited exams include: ServSafe, NRFSP, Prometric, [360Training.com](360Training.com)[ ](360Training.com)[StateFoodSafety.com](StateFoodSafety.com), Always Safe Food Co.)  \n• Approximately 1 month after opening, a complete annual inspection will be conducted by t","cbCaipN6IkXowXVt","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaipN6IkXowXVt","pdf",485004,"English","# Procedures for opening a retail food service facility\n## Application, fees, and required documentation\n## Facility plan submittals and plan review\n## Approval letter, construction permits, and pre-opening inspection\n## Post-construction inspections, certifications, and licensing\n## Explanation of documents required","[{\"question\":\"What application and fee are required to open a retail food service facility in Burlington County?\",\"answer\":\"Complete the attached retail food service application and return it with all required documentation listed on the form. Submit a $100 fee for a new establishment or $75 for alterations, payable to BCHD; the fee is waived for non-profit organizations.\"},{\"question\":\"How long does plan review take after submitting the application?\",\"answer\":\"Plan reviews are conducted by a licensed inspector (REHS). Within 30 business days, the REHS reviews the application and responds; additional information requests can extend beyond 30 business days.\"},{\"question\":\"What must be true before the pre-opening inspection is scheduled and performed?\",\"answer\":\"Schedule the pre-opening inspection with at least 3 business days’ notice. Prior to the inspection, clean up or remove construction equipment and debris, ensure all relevant equipment is installed and ready, and complete any stipulations noted on the approval letter; no refrigerated or freezer-temperature food should be on site.\"}]","PROCEDURES FOR OPENING A RETAIL FOOD SERVICE FACILITY - Required Steps and Documentation (Burlington County Health Department) | PDF",1790926307]