Food Sanitation


Appointments are required to meet with Environmental Health staff due to heavy workloads. Staff members are regularly out of the office conducting inspections.

Please call 309-467-3064 to set up an appointment.

All permit fees are non-refundable.

Food Sanitation Program

The purpose of this program is to promote food safety and to protect citizens from foodborne illness. This mission is accomplished through a variety of enforcement and educational activities:


Permits/Inspections

  • Restaurants (includes bars, convenience stores, coffee shops within a gift shop, etc.)
    • Permit application and fee for operational food permit must be received by the Woodford County Health Department by no later than January 1st of the permit year, or postmarked by no later than January 1. A late fee of $10.00 per day shall be charged for every day late. The late fee must be paid at the time of the permit fee. Seasonal establishments not in operation on date the permit application is due are not late. There will be no late fee charges made for such permits to any school, religious, voluntary or non-profit making community organizations and institutions.  If the Woodford County Health Department has not received an establishment permit by January 15th, the Administrator will go into the field with a law enforcement officer to shut the business down or collect the fee onsite.  
    • 2024 Food Permit Application
    • 2023 Food Permit Application
      • After application is completed, click "Submit" at bottom of application. Your email program should open automatically to send email to wchd@woodfordcountyil.gov. If email does not open, save document as .pdf and email (with menu) to wchd@woodfordcountyil.gov. 
  • Food Services (schools, pantries, etc)
  • Temporary Food and/or Drink Booths-Mobile Food and/or Drink Units 
  1. Note: Inspections for all of these food services are performed following the guidelines of Illinois State Rules and Regulations and Woodford County Ordinance. Licensing fees are based on the type of facility and level of complexity for food preparation, to be determined by WCHD staff. All permit fees are non-refundable.

Consultation/Evaluation/Approval of New Facility Layout Plans

Any new restaurant or food service must be approved and licensed by the Woodford County Health Department before it can begin serving food to the public.

Application for Food Establishment Plan Review
 

Investigation of Complaints

Woodford County Health Department staff investigates complaints made against a food establishment. To make a complaint about a food establishment, call the Health Department during regular business hours at 309-467-3064. You will be required to leave your name and phone number for any follow-up questions. Your information will remain confidential. Anonymous complaints will not be accepted.


Inservice/Training Food Service Staff

To schedule a training session for your food service staff, contact the Health Department at 309-467-3064.


8 hour Certified Food Protection Manager Class

WCHD sponsors 2 classes each year as able. We can also refer individuals to additional classes offered by other programs in the area.



Online Allergen Courses



Investigation/Surveillance Foodborne Illness Outbreak

A potential foodborne outbreak is a cluster of illnesses in which two or more unrelated persons associated in time and place experience the onset of a similar acute illness following ingestion of common food or drink. WCHD staff follow-up on any report of a potential foodborne illness. Actual foodborne illness cannot be verified without laboratory confirmation.