The Environmental Health Division inspects all licensed food service and retail food establishments in the city of Portsmouth. As part of the food safety program, the Environmental Health Division also inspects all licensed temporary food events and all licensed mobile food service operations. This section contains useful food safety information and links to ensure food is safely prepared, stored, and handled.
Restaurant Inspections
How often are food service operations (restaurants) and retail food establishments (grocery stores and carry outs), inspected ?
A food service operation (restaurant) and retail food establishment (grocery stores and carry outs), receives up to four standard or regular inspections per licensing period depending on what class they are licensed as. Facilities are licensed as a Class I, II, III or IV facility according to the Ohio Uniform Food Safety Code. Licensing periods run from March 1 to February 28.
Class I and II facilities = 1 standard inspection per licensing period.
Class III facilites = 2 standard inspections per licensing period
Class IV facilities = 2 standard and 2 Critical Control Point inspections per licensing period. The standard and critical control point inspections may be conducted at the same time.
Please note that a complaint inspection is conducted when a complaint is received concerning a food service operation or retail food establishment. Complaint inspections are conducted in addition to the required standard inspections.
Home Bakery License
What license is required to bake potentially hazardous food in a person’s home?
A Home Bakery License is required to bake potentially hazardous (cream pies, cheese cake and other baked goods requiring proper cooking and holding procedures), baked goods from a person’s home.
The bakery license is issued by the Ohio Department of Agriculture. The cost of the license is $10 per year. The requirements for this license is that there are no pets in the home and no carpet in the kitchen.
Please contact the Ohio Department of Agriculture Food Safety Division at (614) 728-6250 or at foodsafety@agri.ohio.gov for any questions concerning a Home Bakery License.
For applications and information please contact the Portsmouth City Health Department at 740-353-5153 EXT 4
Portsmouth City Health Department Website