Food Establishment License
Food Establishment Licensing Step-by-Step Guide

• Identify your business entity type: are you a sole proprietorship, a Limited Liability Company (LLC) or corporation?
• What is your business concept? If your food business going to be a packaged food retail convenience store? Will you be a grocery store with a deli and food service (for example, catering and take-out pizza)? Will you operate a food manufacturing plant?
• Find an ideal location. Will you be constructing a new building or renting/leasing existing business space?
• Create a budget for expenses (capital costs/equipment, food and beverage inventory, labor costs, rent, utilities, etc)
• Identify your food products and price ranges. What food and beverage products will you offer and at what prices will they be profitable?
• What is your employee staffing plan? How many employees will you hire to start with, including management? What will your hours of operation be?

Food establishment licenses are for businesses that primarily sell, store, or manufacture food. For example, grocery stores, food warehouses, and bakeries need food establishment licenses. These licenses fall directly under MDARD jurisdiction.

 If you primarily serve food that can be immediately consumed, you need a food service license instead. For example: a restaurant, pub, or donut shop is a food service establishment.

 If your business is primarily dairy-related, you will need a dairy-specific license instead. For example: A dairy hauler or milk transportation company will need a dairy license.

 Note: If you aren't sure which license applies, our state field inspectors can advise you where you should be licensed. You can contact your MDARD Regional Food Inspector at 1-800-292-3939.

Consider your local zoning, water, and sewer needs:

• Contact the local municipality's building code department and obtain all necessary permits (examples: plumbing, electrical, mechanical etc)
• If on-site water supply and sewage disposal systems are proposed, has written approval from the local health department been obtained for the water supply and on-site sewage disposal? Have you received approval from the Michigan Department of Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) for the disposal of generated food processing wastewater?

Familiarize yourself with the following:

• Michigan Food Law of 2000
• Michigan Modified Food Code (2009)
• Consumer Pricing and Advertising Regulation 
• Weights and Measures Act

In addition, one or more of the following regulations may be applicable to your specific establishment plan:

• Manufacturing, Packing or Holding Human Food 
• Thermally Processed Low-Acid Foods Packaged in Hermetically Sealed Containers 
• Acidified Foods 
• Fish and Fishery Products 
• Processing and Bottling of Bottled Drinking Water 
• Michigan Smoked Fish Regulation

 Contact your MDARD Regional Food Inspector at 1-800-292-3939 with any questions.

Submitting an MDARD Food Establishment application should be the last thing you do in the process of setting up a new food establishment.

 Food establishment license applications are valid for one license year, May 1st through April 30th. Applications will expire on April 30th of the license year in which you applied. Applications received on or after February 1st through April 30th will be valid through the end of the next license year.

Please note: A license is not issued until after an inspection has been completed and approval to operate is given.

All licensing fees are non-refundable, per statutory requirement.

 For more information or if you are having issues creating an account with MiLogin, please contact the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development at 800-292-3939.