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As of July 1, 2025, Idaho law requires CDH to verify the lawful presence of those applying for public benefits through our agency.

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As of July 1, 2025, Idaho law requires CDH to verify the lawful presence of those applying for public benefits through our agency.

The programs impacted by this change are:
  • WIC applicants who are not on Medicaid, SNAP, or TAFI
  • Clinic services for which a sliding scale is used
  • Licenses and permits for food establishments
  • Licenses and permits for septic onsite, pumper and installer services

You can review the policy here and then complete the form below to verify your lawful presence online or you can visit one of our CDH offices to confirm in person.

Lawful Presence Online Forms: English | Spanish

WIC: English | Spanish

Licenses, Permits & Inspections

Food Establishments & Food Safety

Central District Health (CDH) Food Safety Program works to minimize instances of foodborne illness through education and regulatory inspections. Our Environmental Health Specialists Promote safe food handling practices, educate food service employees and inspect food establishments in Ada, Boise, Elmore, and Valley Counties.

We collaborate closely with the food service industry, local, state, and federal agencies.

Requirements & Regulations

The operator or the owner of the food establishment is responsible for food safety and compliance with the Idaho Food Code.

Establishments that offer Time/Temperature Controlled for Safety Foods (TCS), also known as potentially hazardous foods, must be licensed and regulated by the local public health district. This includes restaurants and mobile food trucks/carts, grocery stores/convenience stores, temporary and catered events, hospitals and other institutions, concession stands and food processors.

To become a regulated food establishment, you must complete an application. Once an application process and a plan review are submitted an Environmental Health Specialist will conduct a pre-operational inspection and a license will be issued.

Applications & Fees

Permanent Establishments

Applications for all long-term food establishments must be submitted at least 30 days before the planned opening of a new establishment or a change of ownership. New construction or extensive remodels prior to opening may require more than 30 days for a plan review process.

Submit completed forms to EHApps@cdh.idaho.gov.

Long Term Food Establishment License Fees:

  • All permanent food establishments except those with more than two licenses on one premise – $200 
  • Food establishments with more than two licenses on one premise – $250
  • Plan review fee for all food establishment applications – $100
  • Full service mobile food establishment without commissary – $80
  • Full service mobile food establishment with commissary – $100

Temporary Establishments

A Temporary Food Establishment (TFE) is a food booth or stand that operates for no more than fourteen days in a row in conjunction with a single event or celebration, such as a festival, farmers market, street fair, or parade.

All vendors selling and/or distributing food items (including beverages) at a special event are required to submit a Temporary Event Establishment License Application. Applications for a temporary food establishment must include the following documents:

 A Temporary Food Establishment license application must be submitted, and a permit must be purchased for each food booth in operation during an event. If the vendor will be operating at more than one event on the same day and time, then an application for each event is required in addition to any applicable fee(s).

Special event coordinators must fill out the Notification for Special Event Application and submit it at least 30 days prior to event start date.

Temporary Event Food Establishment License Fees:

  • Operating for one day – $35 
  • Operating single event for two-three days – $45
  • Operating for four days or multiple events – $80

Additional Fees:

  • Plan Review Fee – $100
  • United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) 2nd Inspection – $200
  • Late Permit Renewal Fee (Jan 1-15) – $35
  • Late Fee Permit Renewal Fee (After Jan 15) – $70
  • License Reinstatement – $18
  • Request for Variance – $50/hour
  • Compliance Conference – $100/hour
  • Enforcement and Legal Fees – $150/hour

Cottage Operations & Unregulated Establishments

Cottage food products are foods that are not sensitive to time and temperature controls and can only be sold directly to an end consumer without any regulatory oversight. These items are most commonly available for sale at farmers’ markets, roadside stands, and on the internet.

To help determine if your operation qualifies as a cottage food, please fill out the following assessment form:

Submit completed assessment to EHApps@cdh.idaho.gov.

Distribution of any foods (including non-TCS foods) to a third party, including wholesale, consignment, or distribution of any foods outside of Idaho will result in the operation being classified as a food establishment and subject to regulatory requirements.

For more information about Cottage Food please go to Idaho Department of Health and Welfare site: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/health-wellness/community-health/food-safety

Guidance Documents

Food Safety Training

Idaho requires food establishments have at least one certified food manager on staff. Obtaining and maintaining your certification means you have the tools and knowledge you need to ensure that your workplace meets industry standards for cleanliness and safety requirements for food handling and preparation.

Food Protection Program guidelines: Accredited Manager Guidance

ServSafe®

CDH offers the ServSafe® Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) course. It is an eight-hour food safety course sanctioned by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation and designed to provide food service managers with the knowledge necessary to meet state and national standards. This certification is valid for five (5) years.

For more information and to register call 208-327-7499.

Class sizes are limited and fill quickly. The registration fee covers all classroom materials and lunch. Individuals that need to re-take the exam or wish to re-certify without sitting through the training course have the option of registering to take the exam only and pay a reduced registration fee.

ServSafe® at CDH Course Fees

8am-5pm – CDH, 707 N. Armstrong Place, Boise (unless otherwise specified)

  • ServSafe® Managers Food Safety Certification Course – $131
  • ServSafe® Class Re-Take – $73
  • ServSafe® Essentials Book – $73
  • ServSafe® Test Only – $73

2026 ServSafe® CFPM Course Schedule

  • Thursday, February 5
  • Tuesday, February 24
  • Thursday, March 19
  • Tuesday, March 31
  • Wednesday, April 8
  • Tuesday, April 21
  • Tuesday, May 5
  • Wednesday, May 20
  • Thursday, June 4
  • Tuesday, July 14
  • Thursday, July 30
  • Tuesday, August 11
  • Wednesday, August 26
  • Tuesday, September 22
  • Wednesday, October 7
  • Thursday, October 22
  • Wednesday, November 18

Other accredited food safety certification programs

Idaho Food Safety & Sanitation Certification

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare offers a course for food service employees to earn a certificate, sometimes referred to as an Idaho food handler’s card. This course does not fulfill the accredited food protection manager requirement. Completing this four-hour course provides certification in food safety under the state’s Food Protection Program that is valid for five years. For more information go to Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Food Safety

Temporary Food Establishment Training

 The TFE Exam is for people operating these booths that serve limited menus.

Resources

Inspections

Environmental Health Specialists conduct regular inspections of restaurants, taverns, grocery stores, markets, farmer’s markets, schools, food processors, and other facilities that handle Time/Temperature controlled for Safety Foods (TCS Foods) to determine proper hygiene and food handling practices of operators and their employees.

All food facilities receive one unannounced inspection each year. When critical violations are noted during an inspection, they must be corrected immediately or the inspector will have to schedule a follow-up inspection or issue a violation correction report.

Search & View Records

Click here to search for and view food establishment records 

Common Violations

Below you will find an overview of common violations and links to Idaho Food Code regulations.

  1. Demonstration of Knowledge
  2. Certified Food Protection Manager
  3. Management, Food Employee, Person in Charge Responsible for Reporting Illness
  4. Proper Use of Restriction and Exclusion
  5. Procedures for Responding to Vomiting and Diarrheal Events
  6. Proper Eating, Drinking, Tasting, or Tobacco Use
  7. No Discharge from Eyes, Nose, and Mouth
  8. Hands Clean and Properly Washed
  9. No Bare Hand Contact with Ready to Eat Food or Pre-Approved Alternative Procedure
  10. Hand Washing Sinks, Properly Supplied and Accessible
  11. Food Received
  12. Food Received at Proper Temperature
  13. Food Must be Safe and Unadulterated
  14. Record Keeping for Seafood/Fish
  15. Separation and Protection of Food
  16. Food Contact Surfaces Cleaned, Sanitized
  17. Food Returned and Re-served
  18. Cooking Time/Temperature
  19. Reheating Procedure for Hot Holding
  20. Food Cooling Process
  21. Hot Holding Temperature
  22. Cold Holding Temperature
  23. Food Dating System
  24. Food Temperature and Time Records
  25. Consumer Advisory
  26. Pasteurized Food Required
  27. Approved Additives
  28. Toxic Substance Storage and Labeling
  29. Compliance with variance/specialized process/HACCP

Resources

File a Report

Report Food Poisoning

If you think you have food poisoning, contact the Central District Health office nearest you or use our online reporting tool below. Our staff will follow up with you as part of the investigation process. Please be prepared to answer specific questions about food you ate up to three days before you became ill.

File a Report