Permit guides › Washington, D.C. › DC-CR-04

DC Health Food Establishment Plan Review: Washington, D.C. restaurant guide

DC Health — Division of Food

What it is

DC Health checks your menu, equipment, sinks, finishes and layout against the DC Food Code before you build.

When a restaurant needs it

All new construction or major renovation of a food establishment (handled as part of the DOB building permit).

How to apply

Complete the DC Health Plan Review Guidance Packet and submit it through ProjectDox with your DOB building permit.

Documents you’ll need

Proposed menu (including seasonal/banquet menus)
Equipment schedule with manufacturer spec sheets (make/model)
Scaled plans showing equipment, plumbing, electrical and ventilation
Site plan with dumpster/outside equipment
HACCP plan if doing vacuum packing, sous vide or other special processes

Fee

$100 (Type A: up to 25 capacity or 3,000 sq ft); $200 (Type B: 26–75 capacity or 3,001–10,000 sq ft); $300 (Type C: over 76 capacity or over 10,001 sq ft); per DC Health's 2019 fee list

Processing time

Concurrent with DOB review; DC's 2016 restaurant guide cites about 30 days

Renewal

Re-review for major renovations or equipment replacement ($70)

Who files

Usually uploaded by the architect/expediter with the building permit; the owner may submit.

Good to know

Required items: a hand sink in every prep and warewashing area, a 3-compartment sink or dishwasher, a mop sink with mop hangers, a grease storage receptacle and separate chemical storage.

Official source

DC Health: facility plan review · DC Health Plan Review Guidance Packet

Get your personalized Washington, D.C. permit plan

Answer a few questions about your space and get every permit in order, with a timeline, a cost range, walkthroughs, and every application filled in for you to sign with Open.

Build my free plan

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