Food Service Licensing
State law requires the licensure of food service establishments (temporary and permanent). Types of food service establishments licensed by this program include:
- Bars
- Brew Pubs
- Cafes
- Cafeterias
- Catering Kitchens
- Catering Trucks
- Coffee Shops
- Commissaries
- Delicatessens
- Donut Shops
- Grills
- Lunch Counters
- Nightclubs
- Rental Halls
- Restaurants
- Sandwich Shops
- Soda Fountains
- Special Transitory Food Units (a temporary food establishment that is licensed to operate throughout the state without the 14-day limits or a mobile food establishment that is not required to return to a commissary)
- Taverns
- Temporary Food Service Stands at a Festival, Event, or Flea Market
- Theaters
- Vending Machines
The Michigan Department of Agriculture is responsible for inspecting and licensing establishments such as retail stores, bakeries, butcher shops, produce markets, food warehouses and processing plants as well as State or county fair concessions.
Home Kitchen
For information on preparing and selling food from your home kitchen, please read the Cottage Food law.
Guidance for Food Service Operators
- Consumer Advisories (PDF)
- Emergency Action Plans
- Enforcement Guidelines and Administrative Hearing Process (PDF)
- How to Apply for a Food Service License
- Plan Review Resources
- Special Transitory Food Unit License Regulations
Food Safety Laws
- Michigan Cottage Food Law
- Michigan Food Law (PDF)
- Michigan Modified Food Code (PDF)
- Regulation 570 - Manager Certification (PDF)
Educational Resources
- Food Manager Certification
- Michigan Restaurant Association: Michigan Food Safety
- Norovirus Disinfection Guidance (PDF)
- Norovirus Fact Sheet (PDF)
- Updated Food Law / Michigan Modified Food Code Information
Forms
- Applying for and Safely Operating a Temporary Food Establishment License (PDF)
- Change of Ownership Application and Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) Worksheet (PDF)
- Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA): Food Service License Application New (PDF)
- Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA): Food Service License Application Renewal (PDF).
- Notification of Intent to Operate a Special Transitory Food Unit (PDF)
- Temporary Food Service Establishment (TFE) License Application (PDF)