Opening a Food Service Operation
(New or Change in Ownership)

Complete the Food Service Permit Application linked here: Food Service Application.

The completed application must be submitted along with a proposed menu, a set of plans (blueprint or scaled drawing) and all other supporting documents listed on the application.

Please refer to these documents for guidance: 

• Food Code (English | Spanish)
• Example Set of Plans
• Plan Review Information

Submit your completed Food Service Application, menu, set of plans and other supporting documents to DeKalb Public Health’s Division of Environmental Health. You may submit these items by email at DeKalb.EH@dph.ga.gov or in person to our office located at: 

Richardson Health Center
445 Winn Way, Suite 320
Decatur Georgia, 30030

Once you have submitted all of the required documents, our administrative team will review them to ensure everything is complete. If items are missing and/or incorrect, the team will contact you. Once the application is successfully processed, you will need to pay all applicable fees. A list of applicable fees can be found here.

After fees are paid, your application will move on to the plan review phase, where it will be assigned to an Environmental Health Specialist for review. They will contact you with any questions and notify you when the plan is approved.

Take the reviewed and approved plan to your local business license office. The DeKalb County Business License Office is located at:

DeKalb County Department of Planning & Sustainability
178 Sams Street
Decatur, Georgia 30030
404-371-2461
BLicense@dekalbcountyga.gov

Obtain Fire Marshal approval. Call for an appointment at 404-371-3010. For the cities of Chamblee, Doraville or Stone Mountain, please call 404-371-2611.

A copy of the Fire Marshal’s approval inspection or Certificate of Occupancy is REQUIRED prior to the food service permitting inspection.

Schedule a permitting inspection with an Environmental Health Specialist. Before requesting the inspection, please ensure:

• All applicable fees have been paid.
• Documentation of Fire Marshal’s approval or Certificate of Occupancy has been submitted.
• The facility is ready to pass inspection.

Once the facility passes the permitting inspection, the food service permit will be emailed to the address on file.

Please obtain a business license within your local municipality. Within DeKalb County, business licenses can be obtained here:

Division of Internal Audit and Licensing
Clark Harrison Building
330 West Ponce de Leon Avenue, 2nd Floor
Decatur, Georgia 30030