The new Retail Food Establishment Sanitation Requirements Title 410 IAC 7-26 (food code) becomes effective on April 16th, 2025. Establishments will not be cited for new violations within this code until January 1, 2026. Violations that appear in BOTH the old code (410 IAC 7-24) and new code will still be enforced. The period from April 16 through December 31, 2025 will be a transition period to educate establishments on the new violations and requirements.
The Environmental Health Specialists in the Food Protection Division enforce state code 410 IAC 7-24. Retail Food Establishment and Sanitation Requirements and La Porte County Ordinance 2013-15. Food Service Establishment Regulations ensuring the facility has safe food handling practices. Restaurants, convenience stores, private clubs, lunch trucks, grocery stores, bars, taverns, some non-profit organizations, schools, mobile vendors and temporary units receive unannounced inspections routinely throughout the year.
Working with public health nurses, physicians and Indiana State Department of Health Field Epidemiologists, environmental health specialists promptly investigate incidents of suspected food borne illness. Other food complaints that are not food borne illnesses are investigated by environmental health specialists when a name and phone number of complainant is given.
Persons who are OPENING a food service establishment or seek to perform major renovations must have their proposed plans and a menu approved prior to implementation to ensure appropriate equipment and procedures are in place. A probation fee of $200.00 is due before the new establishment opens.
- Restaurant Application - retail food license fees range from $175/year-$325/year.
Online Application | Download PDF - Commissary Agreement for Retail Establishments
- Building Guidelines
- Plan/Review Questionnaire for Retail Food Establishments
- Instructions for Completing Plan/Review Questionnaire
Temporary Vendor $30.00 per day if application is received or post marked 7 days prior to event, $50.00 per day if less than 7 days.
A temporary vendor is a retail food establishment that operates for a period of no more than fourteen (14) consecutive days in conjunction with a single event or celebration with the approval of the organizers of the event or celebration.
A Temporary vendor must be able to meet basic minimum sanitation requirements to safely prepare and serve food. Inspection is done each 24 hours or as deemed necessary by the health officer. Any person operating a Temporary Retail Food Establishment shall comply with all Temporary Retail Food Establishment guidelines developed by the La Porte County Health Department and approved by the La Porte County Board of Health. APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED SEVEN (7) DAYS PRIOR TO EVENT.
- Temporary Vendor Checklist Items needed to obtain Temporary License
If you are hosting an event, festival, or fair you must complete an event application informing us the dates and times of the festivities with all vendors listed. The application is due one month prior to the event. ALL temporary vendors must apply one week in advance of the event.
- Event Application
Online Application | Download PDF - Temporary Vendor Application
Online Application | Download PDF - Temporary Vendor Cooling/Cooking Requirements
- Temporary Vendor Handwashing/Dishwashing Requirements
- Temporary Vendor Food Thawing Requirements
- Temporary Vendor Backflow Prevention Requirements
- Temporary Vendor Ice Usage Requirements
Mobile Units
A mobile unit is a retail food establishment that is not on a permanent foundation and is readily movable. The self contained, free standing unit must have facilities adequate to safely prepare and serve food. The permit will allow the mobile unit to serve food on an unlimited basis throughout the county. An inspection is conducted according to seasonal operation. A sanitation certification may be required based on the items prepared and sold. Any person operating a Mobile Retail Food Service Establishment shall comply with all Mobile Retail Food Service Establishment guidelines developed by the Health Department and approved by the La Porte County Board of Health.
- Mobile Unit Checklist
- Mobile application $200/Year
- Mobile Unit Floor Plan Example
- Mobile Unit Plan/Review Questionnaire
Pushcarts
A pushcart is a mobile retail food establishment that is readily moveable. It is designed as an open air type operation that the operator stands next to and vends limited food items from the cart. Any person operating a push cart shall comply with all Pushcart Retail Food Service guidelines developed by the La Porte County Health Department and approved by the La Porte County Board of Health.
Home Based Vendor Rule
Retail Food Establishment Information Sheets
- Backflow Prevention
- Cross Contamination
- Food Safety during a power outage
- Inspection Response Form – Operators have 10 days to respond to an inspection. This gives them the opportunity to show any changes made in cooking preparation, cooling procedures, storage of food, cleaning procedures etc. Operators can show all corrections made from the health department inspection.
Employee Health
- Sample Written Food Employee Health Policy
- Food Employee Reporting Agreement
- Steps to Clean Spills Vomit or Feces in Food Establishments
La Porte County Health Department ServSafe®Manager Test Information 2025
Cost: $45.00 (Prices Subject To Change Without Notice)
Where: 809 State St La Porte IN 1st floor conference room
Time: 1:00 pm
Call To Register: 219-326-6808 Ext. 2200 or 219-325-5563
Test Dates 2025
- April 16
- June 11
- August 20
- October 15
- December 10
ServSafe® Manager 7th Edition (formerly ServSafe® Essentials) is ideal for helping students prepare to take the ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification Exam. Books with exam sheet attached are available for purchase at the La Porte office for $75. There is no additional fee to take the exam, but you must call the office to reserve a seat.
Books are also available at the La Porte & Michigan City libraries.
NOTE: There will be NO CHARGE to take the exam at the La Porte County Health Department if you provide an answer sheet from a book you may have purchased on your own. Registration is still required.