Processing Center Hours

Health Regulation and Licensing Administration (HRLA)
Processing Center is open to the public:

Office Hours (except holidays):
Monday, 9 am – 1 pm
Tuesday, 9 am – 1 pm
Wednesday, 9 am – 3:30 pm 
Thursday, 9 am – 1 pm
Friday, 9 am – 1 pm

Division of Food staff: 
Office Hours:  Monday - Friday, 8:15 am – 4:45 pm
Service Hours:  Monday - Friday - 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

Online Complaint Form

Do you have a complaint about a food establishment? 
Please select this link to submit your Complaint about a Food Establishment 
or send an email to [email protected]

Online Application Portal

We have launched the Division of Food Safety Portal, which is now open!
Please select this link to submit your Online Application to the Food Division
(DC Health is no longer accepting paper applications.)

The following applications are accepted: 

• Mobile Vending Permits   
• Cottage Food Business Permits  
• Shared Kitchen Use Permits  
• Manage inspection and remediation plans for health violations  
• Certified Food Protection Manager  
• You may also check the status of past applications.

We do recommend using Google Chrome for optimal functionality. You will be required to create an account, complete the application, upload any requested support documentation, and submit payment. Our review team will review your application and respond to you via email. Please note that you will only be required to create an account once (you will use the same account for any business you do with the Division of Food). If you have any questions/or have any issues, please feel free to contact us at [email protected].

Inspection Request Form

To request an inspection, submit a request via our online Inspection Request Form.

About our Division

The Division of Food (DF) inspects approximately 7,500 food establishments in the District of Columbia. Food establishments include delicatessens, bakeries, grocery stores, retail marine markets, ice cream manufacturers, restaurants, wholesale markets, mobile food vendors, hotels and cottage food businesses. We also work with the Tobacco Control Program to ensure smoke-free food establishments.

Food-borne infections and intoxications affect millions of Americans every year. In addition to the regulation of food establishments, the Food Safety and Hygiene Inspection Services Division offers educational, informational and consultative sessions for community and industry groups. Contact us for more information! E-mail [email protected].

News and Alerts

• Health Alerts (for reference only - not currently active)

Resources

• Food Establishments
• File a Complaint (Food Establishment) online or send an email to [email protected]
• Fee Waivers for Food Establishments Using or Switching to Refilling Returnable Containers

• Non-Food Establishments
• File a Complaint (non-Food Establishment)
   
• Food Establishment Inspection Reports
• Understanding Food Establishment Inspections
   
• Food Establishment Closures and Restorations
• Closures and Restorations: "Here is what to do next"
   
• Food Signs and Fact Sheets
• Guidance Documents
   
• Mobile Food Vending 
• Cottage Food Businesses 
• Microenterprise Home Kitchen
• Special Events 
• Shared Kitchen / Food Manufacturers
   
• Health Alerts
• Regulations
• Food Safety for the Holidays

Food Donation Law Guidance

For more information about food and yard waste for businesses, visit zerowaste.dc.gov.

About our Inspection Reports

DC Health does not assign a grade, percentage, or rating for food establishment inspection reports. We perform a pass-fail inspection. The amount of Priority, Priority Foundation and Core violations are tallied at the top of each inspection report. We perform follow up inspections to ensure the violations which were cited on the initial report have been corrected. To view a food establishment’s inspection report, visit "Inspections."

Contact Us

We can help! Contact us at [email protected]. 

Holiday Food Safety

• Holiday Food Safety Myths
• Food Safety Tips for a Healthy Holiday

Mission

The Food Safety and Hygiene Inspection Services Division (FSHISD) makes certain that residents and visitors to the Nation's Capital consume safe and wholesome food.  The Division protects the public health and safety of the residents and visitors in the District by ensuring the safety of the food supply and ensuring the sanitation of non-food health facilities through inspections, enforcement, education and training.  The Division administers an inspection program to address risk factors known to contribute to food-borne illness.  Staff enforces regulations that reduce the risk of food borne illness, ensures food products are honestly and accurately represented and promotes public and industry awareness and understanding of legal requirements and responsibilities of the food establishments and other non-food health facilities. 

District Council members reviewed and approved legislation commonly known as the District Food Code.  The Food Code became effective May 2, 2002 and required standardized training and inspections that evaluated the food facility holistically, including environmental factors, rather than focusing on individual components.  Staff began the implementation of the District Food Code on October 1, 2005 with two additional phase-ins.  Enforcement was phased in on June 1, 2006, and collections of the fees for service became effective on December 15, 2006.  Staff from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) consider the District program to be an exceptional one with excellent training, inspection standards and enforcement tools. 

_{Updated December 2023}