443-523-1700
Environmental Health is responsible for the licensing and inspection of food service facilities (restaurants, grocery stores, bars, mobile food trucks, food services at fairs & events, and bed and breakfasts).
cottage food law
A cottage food business (or a home-based business) is defined in the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 10.15.03 as a business that:
a) produces or packages cottage food products in a residential kitchen; and
b) has annual revenues from the sale of cottage food products in an amount not exceeding $50,000.
For more information about what foods can be sold under cottage food regulations, visit the official Maryland Cottage Food Businesses site or read these guidelines.
temporary food service permits
what you need to know
If you’re thinking about selling food at a public event in Somerset County, you might need a Temporary Food Service Facility Permit.
These permits are required to sell food or drinks at fairs, festivals, carnivals, community days, concession stands, or other special events.
A temporary special food service facility is a facility operating for a temporary period of time in conjunction with a fair, carnival, recreational facility or other public event.
Public event means a planned gathering that is open to the public which is advertised with fliers, newspaper ads, banners, internet websites or other means as being open to the general public regardless of whether a fee is charged or not.
The facility may not operate for more than 30 days at a fixed location.
applying for the permit
To apply for a permit, you need to fill out an application and pay the fee at least five business days before the event.
No application fee is required for a non-profit organization with proof of IRS tax-exempt status.
All forms can be found here.
A license is not required for those food facilities which serve only non-potentially hazardous commercially packaged foods, such as candy, pretzels, chips, nuts, sodas, bottled water or other similar snack foods.
permanent food service facilities
There are 3 categories of permanent food service facilities.
Category 1 (High priority) is inspected 3 times per year.
Category 2 (Medium priority) is inspected 2 times per year.
Category 3 (Low – Prepackaged temperature controlled food items only) is inspected once every 2 years.
All forms can be found here.
Complaints concerning the food facilities located in Somerset County are investigated.
- Food Safety On the Move
- Salmonella Awareness
- Food Safety.gov
- Processing & Selling Value Added Food Products in Maryland
Polystyrene (STYROFOAM) ban
Effective July 1, 2020 all polystyrene, aka Styrofoam, containers used in food service establishments will be banned to protect the environment.
For the details and a link to the Maryland Department of Environment’s webpage follow this link
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BAN
STAKEHOLDERS NOTICE IN SPANISH