Food Service Permit (Food Establishment Permit) incl. Plan Review & Pre-operational Inspection: Boston restaurant guide

Boston ISD — Health Division

What it is

The health permit to serve food to the public. If you're building or changing a kitchen, ISD Health must approve your plans first and pass a pre-operational inspection before you open.

When a restaurant needs it

Every restaurant. Plan review is required for new restaurants, construction/renovation, layout changes, or new equipment or specialty items (frozen dairy, live shellfish tanks, sprouted seeds); not for taking over an unchanged restaurant.

How to apply

Schedule plan review by calling 617-635-5326 or emailing ISDHealth@boston.gov (in-person appointment). Then submit the Food Establishment Permit application by email (ISDHealth@boston.gov) or in person (1010 Mass. Ave., 4th floor), pay online, in person or by mailed check/money order, and pass the pre-operational inspection.

Documents you’ll need

Food Establishment Permit Application with Workers' Compensation Insurance Affidavit
EIN
Certified Food Protection Manager certificate
Allergen awareness certificate
Plan Review Worksheet, two scaled floor plans, NSF/UL equipment specs and menu (for plan review)
Certificate of Occupancy
Common Victualler License
Certificate of Inspection (50+ seats or alcohol)
Signed lease

Fee

Sit-down with takeout: Year 1 $200 minimum, then $200–$1,200 based on gross sales. Sit-down without takeout: $200 up to 100 seats, plus $1 per seat over 100. Caterer $325; bakery $100; manufacturing frozen desserts $100. Add-ons: milk +$30, frozen desserts +$30.

Processing time

Plan review 2–6 weeks minimum; with no space changes 1–2 business days; inspection usually within 1 business day once prerequisites are met

Renewal

Annual; permits run January 1–December 31 (bills arrive around the second week of November)

Who files

The owner or operator files; an architect or expediter can attend plan review.

Good to know

Common reasons for failing the pre-operational inspection: hand sinks without soap or towels, pests, poor ventilation or lighting, active construction, or no current hood inspection.

Official source

Boston — Food Service Permit · Boston — food permit plan review details

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Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Guidance only, not legal advice.