License Minnesota

Retail Food Handler Licenses

The food handling of retail food establishments are regulated primarily by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA). "Food Establishment" means an operation that: (1) stores, prepares, packages, serves, vends, or otherwise provides food for human consumption, including a market, grocery store, convenience store, special event food stand, vending machine and vending location, and retail bakery (2) relinquishes possession of food to a consumer directly or indirectly through a delivery service, including the home delivery of grocery orders or restaurant takeout orders, and a delivery service that is provided by common carriers.

Agency contact information:

Agriculture (MDA), Minnesota Department of
625 N. Robert Street
St. Paul, MN 55155
(651) 201-6000 | (800) 967-2474 | (800) 627-3529 (TTY)
Dairy and Food Inspection Division
(651) 201-6062
Contact Info: Dairy and Food Inspection Division

Website:

Dairy and Food Inspection Division

License Information System (LIS) Lookup a License

Online Licensing & Payment Options

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) protects the public health and safety regarding food and agricultural products.

Statutes:

Minn. Stats. 28A.04
28A.08

Rules:

MINNESOTA RULES 4626.0010 - 4626.2020

Forms:

Consolidated Food License Application, AG-01302-01 or AG-01301-02 (Mobile Units)

Plan Review information is available on the MN Dept. of Agriculture website at Retail Food Store Sanitation Plan Review Application.

Requirements:

Must meet requirement for distribution, handling, and sale of food.

Fee:

Fee is based on gross annual food sales or service for the immediate previous license or fiscal year or anticipated future gross annual food sales.

Retail Food Handler and Retail Mobile Food Handler License:

Gross Annual Food  Sales & Service

License  Fee

e-Licensing  Surcharge

No License  Penalty

Less than $50,000

$77

$7.70

$51

$50,001 - $250,000

$155

$15.50

$102

$250,001 - $1,000,000

$276

$27.60

$182

$1,000,001 - $5,000,000

$799

$79.90

$527

$5,000,001 - $10,000,000

$1,162

$116.20

$767

$10,000,001 - $15,000,000

$1,376

$137.60

$908

$15,000,001 - $20,000,000

$1,607

$150

$1,061

$20,000,001 - $25,000,000

$1,847

$150

$1,219

Over $25,000,000

$2,001

$150

$1,321


Prepackaged Non-Perishable Food Only

Less than $15,000

$50

$5

$33




Food vending machine operator's inspection fee is $25 per machine except machines inspected by a city or county regulator agency or on machines dispensing only gum balls, hard candy, unsorted confections, bottled or canned soft drinks or ice manufactured and packaged by another (Minn. Stat. § 28A.09).
 

Machines dispensing only nuts (bulk or packaged) pay $10 per vending machine.

Licensing surcharge to be assessed

The Minnesota Legislature passed legislation requiring a 10% surcharge of no less than $5 and no more than $150 on each business, commercial, professional or occupational license. The funding from this surcharge will go to MN.IT Services (formerly Office of Enterprise Technology (OET)), which is establishing an electronic licensing system for the state. The surcharge will be in place through June 30, 2015. See Minn. Stat. § 16E.22.

Period of Issuance:

April 1 - March 31 for mobile food concession and retail mobile units. July 1 - June 30 for all other retail establishments.

Length of Determination Process:

Seven days to one month.

Other Pertinent Information:

A booklet titled "Starting a Food Business in Minnesota", available from the Dairy and Food Inspection Division, may be obtained by calling (651) 201-6027 or downloading it from the MN Department of Agriculture website.