Environmental Health

Food, Pool, and Lodging

ANNOUNCEMENT: We now offer ONLINE Food Handler Training through a partnership with Lane County.  A permit issued from this website is valid for 3 years in every Oregon County.  The fee is $10 and you can return to the website anytime to print duplicate cards at no additional cost. We are discontinuing the Albany testing site effective June 1, 2010.

The staff of Environmental Health Services are dedicated to the prevention of disease through regulation of those factors which affect the safety of our food, water, and environment.

Our services include:

• Licensing and inspecting:
  • Restaurants, bed & breakfast food service, hotel and motel breakfast service, and catering operations
  • Commissary, vending, warehouse and mobile food units
  • Temporary restaurants and farmer’s markets
  • Hotels and motels, bed and breakfast lodging
  • RV parks
  • Public swimming pools and spas
  • Organizational camps
• Inspecting Day Care, Pre-School, and School Food Service Programs
• Providing of food handler training for restaurant employees

Restaurants, Bed & Breakfast Food Service, Hotel and Motel Breakfast Service, and Catering Operations

• Laws and Regulations
  The requirements governing the licensing and operation of public food service facilities are established in Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) & Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR). These requirements are contained in ORS 624 Food Service Facilities and OAR 333 Divisions 150-170 Food Sanitation Rules.
• License Required
  A license is required to operate a public food service facility. Click here to obtain a license application for Restaurants, Bed and Breakfast Food Service, Hotel/Motel Breakfast Facilities, and Catering Operations.
• Plan Review Required
  When building, remodeling, or converting a facility to a Restaurant, Bed and Breakfast Food Service, Hotel/Motel Breakfast Facility, or Catering Operation a detailed set of plans must be submitted for review. To assist applicants in this process plan review packets and General Restaurant Guidelines are available.
• Dispute Resolution Brochure
  Occasionally an operator believes that his/her local inspector or plan reviewer has made an interpretation that is inconsistent with the Food Sanitation Rules or existing state policies. When these disputes cannot be resolved at the county level, there is a process in place to help resolve these conflicts statewide. The process is explained in a Dispute Resolution Brochure.
• Date Marking Posters
  Licensed Food Service Facilities are required to date mark their ready-to-eat, readily perishable foods. Washington County developed a poster that can be used at your facility to help you and your employees understand this requirement. It is available in English or Español.

Commissary, Vending Warehouse, and Mobile Food Units

• Laws and Regulations
  The requirements governing the licensing and operation of commissaries, vending warehouses, and mobile food units are established in Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) & Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR). These requirements are contained in ORS 624 Food Service Facilities and OAR 333 Division 162 Mobile Food Unit Rules.
  
  
• License Required
  A license is required to operate a Commissary, Vending Warehouse, or Mobile Food Unit. Click here to obtain a license application for a Commissary, Vending Warehouse, or Mobile Food Unit
  
  
• Plan Review Required
  When building, remodeling, or converting an existing structure to a Commissary, or Vending Warehouse, or building, remodeling, or converting a mobile structure to a Mobile Food Unit, a detailed set of plans must be submitted for review. To assist applicants in this process a plan review packet and Mobile Food Unit Operation Guide are available.
  
  
• Report Your Operating Schedule
  If you are a licensed mobile unit you can update your operating schedule on a Mobile Unit Itinerary form.
  
  
• Mobile Units licensed in other Oregon Counties
  If you are a licensed mobile unit from another county in Oregon and want to operate in Linn County, you can complete a Notice of Mobile Unit Movement here.
  

Temporary Restaurants and Farmers Markets

• Commercial License Required
  Operating a temporary food booth requires a license for each event. If you are a for-profit business, a license application packet is available for your commercial temporary restaurant.
• License Application for Additional Events
  If you already have our packet of information and need more applications, separate license applications are available.
• Non-Profit Organization License Required
  Operating a benevolent temporary food booth requires a license for up to 13 events per calendar year. If you are a tax-exempt organization, you will need a license application packet, a form for listing events and a baked goods sign for your benevolent temporary restaurant.
• Food Booth Guidelines
  If you are planning on operating a temporary food booth, Oregon Department of Human Services has developed a booklet to help you in setting up and operating your food booth.
  
  
• Farmer's Market Guidelines
  Oregon Department of Agriculture has developed a booklet for businesses operating at Farmer's Markets in Oregon.
  

Hotels/Motels, Bed & Breakfast Lodging

• Laws and Regulations
  The requirements governing the licensing and operation of hotels and motels are established in Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) & Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR). These requirements are contained in ORS 446 Tourist Facilities and OAR 333 Division 29 Travelers' Accommodation rules.
  
  
• License Required
  A license is required to operate a hotel, motel, or any facility offering more than two rooms for rental or lodging on a daily or weekly basis. Click here to obtain a Tourist Facility License Application for a Travelers' Accommodation.
  

Recreational Vehicle Parks

• Laws and Regulations
  The requirements governing the licensing and operation of Recreational Vehicle Parks are established in Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) & Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR). These requirements are contained in ORS 446 Tourist Facilities and OAR 333 Division 31Construction and Maintenance of Recreation Parks.
  
  
• License Required
  A license is required to operate a RV Park, which is a type of Recreation Park. Click here to obtain a Tourist Facility License Application for a Recreation park.
  
  

Public Swimming Pools and Spas

• Laws and Regulations
  The requirements governing the licensing and operation of Public Swimming Pools and Spas are established in Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) & Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR). These requirements are contained in ORS 448 and OAR 333 Division 60 Public Swimming Pools and Division 62 Public Spa Pools.
  
  
• License Required
  A license is required to operate a Public Swimming Pool, Spa Pool, or Bathing Facility. Click here to obtain a license application and a Pool Operator Training Manual.
  
  
• Accident and Drowning Report Required
  Oregon Administrative Rules require that the operator of any public swimming pool or spa shall report in writing, to the Department of Human Services, any drowning, other death, or injury requiring medical attention that occurs on the pool or spa premises. This report form must be submitted to the Department of Human Services within seven days of the occurrence.
  
  
• Fecal and Vomiting Accidents
  Here is information on how to reduce the risk of a fecal or vomiting accident in your pool and instructions on what to do if one occurs.
  
  

Organizational Camps

• Laws and Regulations
  The requirements governing the licensing and operation of an Organizational Camp are established in Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) & Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR). These requirements are contained in ORS 446 and OAR 333 Division 30 Organizational Camps.
• License Required
  A license is required to operate an Organizational Camp. Click here to obtain a Tourist Facility License Application for an Organizational Camp.

Day Cares and Pre-Schools

• Inspect Day Cares, Pre-Schools, and School Food Service Facilities

The Department of Employment, Childcare Division regulates the certification of Day Cares and Preschools. Linn County conducts inspections of these facilities at the request of the Department of Employment, Child Care Division.

For more information, contact the Child Care Division, or visit their web site at:
www.oregon.gov/EMPLY/CCD/index.shtml

The Department of Education regulates Public Schools Food Service. conducts inspections of the food service operations at public schools at the request of the Department of Education.
For more information, contact the Department of Education, or visit their web site at: www.ode.state.or.us/search/results/?id=62

Food Handler Training

• ANNOUNCEMENT: We now offer ONLINE Food Handler Training through a partnership with Lane County. A permit issued from this website is valid for 3 years in every Oregon County. The fee is $10 and you can return to the website anytime to print duplicate cards at no additional cost.  We are discontinuing the Albany testing site effective June 1, 2010.
• Training Manuals are also available online in the following languages: English, Español, Vietnamese, Chinese, Russian and Korean. Contact our office to make arrangements for testing in languages other than English and Spanish.
• The State of Oregon also requires food service employees to be trained to administer emergency first aid to relieve any person choking on food particles. This training is available from these local providers.
• Employers may also participate in our Facility Based Food Handler Training program. Contact our office for more information.
• In addition, all food handlers should have a copy of Personal Hygiene Guidelines For Food Service Workers.

Fee Schedule

Click here to obtain a copy of the current fee schdedule.