What is a Retail Food Serving Meals License?

Retail means sales that are directly to the consumer. This can be in person, at a facility, take out/pick up, or online sales. Retail Food Serving Meals are brick and mortar establishments including any buildings or rooms within a building where food is prepared, served, or sold to the general public. This would also include locations that are catered to. 

“Meals” means foods that are usually consumed during breakfast, lunch, or dinner and can be taken to go or eaten while dining in. Some examples of these foods include hamburgers, pasta, sandwiches, pizza, rice dishes, tacos, etc. 

Establishments whose sales are more than 50% in “meals” that are considered to be in the “Serving Meals” category. Some examples of this include sit down restaurants, fast food facilities, etc.

Applying for a Retail Food Serving Meals License

Please give our department at least 14 days prior to your first event in order to process your application and fees. 

Follow the steps below to start obtaining a license:

1. IDENTIFY YOUR RISK CATEGORY
Once you have determined if you are serving meals vs not serving meals you will need to identify what risk category you are in based on your activity. There will be a different risk rating for your base and a different risk rating for your mobile unit depending on what you will be doing at each location. 
Hazard Assessment to Determine License Category

This can be confusing, so if you have questions please contact our department for guidance at environmental.health@sheboygancounty.com or call (920) 459-3207. 

Quick guide:

• If you are: cold holding, hot holding, using raw products, cooling, catering you would most likely be a COMPLEX
• If you are: cold holding, hot holding, using raw products you would most likely be a MODERATE
• If you are: cold or hot holding you would most likely be a SIMPLE 
  (examples: special coffee drinks, scooping ice cream, all products are precooked

2. FILL OUT APPLICATION
Once you have determined your categories, fill out the appropriate application below. 
Sheboygan County Public Health Food Licensing Application

3. SUBMIT APPLICATION AND THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION

• Plan Review Checklist this will include a layout of the establishment with sinks, equipment, etc.
• We will need a copy of your menu
• A floor plan including sinks and equipment
• Certified Food Protection Manager Requirement is a prerequisite for Simple - Complex Retail
• Food Licenses that must be obtained within 90 days of licensing.

4. PAY FOR LICENSE
See payment options available here.

5. SETTING UP PRE-INSPECTION
Once we receive this information and payment you will be assigned a sanitarian. Your assigned sanitarian will reach out to you to go through all of your information that you have submitted and then schedule the pre-inspection.

6. GETTING YOUR LICENSE
If during your pre-inspection, your establishment meets all code requirements you will be issued a license.

---

Preparing for Operation and Inspection

Each year our department will attempt to complete a routine inspection of your establishment during normal business hours, or during preparation.

Below are links for your reference to help get yourself ready for the pre-inspection and continuing operations:

• Plan Review Guidelines

• Construction Guidance 

• Employee Health Agreement form for staff

• Procedures for Clean-up of Vomit and Diarrheal Incidents (be sure that all staff are aware of the procedures and know where to find them)

• Handwashing sign posted at all handwashing sinks.

• Safe Holding temperatures

• Food code fact sheets

• WI Food Code

---

Questions and Resources

Do you have questions about lodging establishments in Sheboygan County? 
Contact us at (920) 459-3207 or email at environmental.health@sheboygancounty.com.

 

4/2/2025