Opening a restaurant is the quintessential American dream for many people. What better way to make a living than by cooking great food and serving it to the thankful masses. It does, however, take careful planning, beginning with finding the perfect location and deciding on a concept and menu to understanding all of the regulatory requirements.
The Virginia Department of Health regulates the construction and operation of food establishments. You can learn what is necessary to open a restaurant and what the health department looks for during an inspection on the Food Establishment Operators Information page at the VDH web site.
Before you sign a lease agreement or purchase contract for your restaurant location, it is important to fully understand the Virginia Health Department regulations. The menu provided drives the Health Department requirements. There needs to be a separate space for preparing raw foods and processing the foods. There must be a hand sink readily available in the food preparation area within 25’ of the work area and it must have a least 18” space on each side to prevent splashing. There must be a dump sink for water used for mopping and cleaning separated from any other sink. A Foodservice Application for a permit must be submitted at least 30 days prior to planned opening.
Chesterfield County’s Health Department staff can provide guidance regarding health department requirements. Contact the Health Department at 804-748-1691 to schedule an appointment.