Retail Food Licensing

Retail food establishments include restaurants, groceries stores, convenience stores, mobile food establishments, snack shops, and other types of establishments that sell food directly to the consumer.

We are contracted by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP) to license, inspect, and investigate all retail food establishments in Sauk County in conjunction with the Wisconsin Food Code.  We conduct annual inspections of each licensed retail food establishment to ensure that the operators are using proper practices that reduce the risk of food borne illness.

Food Code Fact Sheets

Retail Food Licensing Information

If you are thinking of starting a retail food establishment in Sauk County, please take the time to review the following information about the licensing process and requirements. It is against the law to operate a retail food establishment without a license. 

• Zoning

  • A retail food license is not the only approval you will need to operate. Your local planning and zoning department must also approve your business.

• Application

  • A completed License Application must be submitted to the public health department with the correct fees enclosed.
  • If you are unsure of the type of license your establishment requires after reviewing this page, please contact us at (608) 355-4327.
  • The application can be found in the supporting documents below.

• License Types

  • License types are based on the results of an assessment of the establishment's activities, physical attributes, and volume of sales.
  • Please review the DATCP fee structure fact sheet and contact Public Health Sauk County at 608-355-3290 if you have any questions. 
  • License fees are listed in the License Application. The License application can be found below in the supporting documents section.

• Plan Review

  • New facilities and existing facilities that are planning significant remodeling or expansion must submit a plan review prior to the remodeling or expansion.
  • Plan reviews consist of the following items that will need to be submitted to the public health department:
    • License Application (if applicable with a new license)
    • License and Pre-inspection Fees (if applicable with a new license)
    • Plan Review Fee
    • Proposed menu
    • Equipment to be installed (make/model).
    • Floor plan drawn to scale showing the location and label for all equipment, sinks, storage, etc…
    • Finish material for surfaces (floors, walls, ceiling).
  • For an overview of facility and equipment requirements, please review the Plan Review Guidelines in the supporting document below.

• Pre-inspection

  • A pre-inspection will be conducted when you are ready to start operating. A pre-inspection is to ensure that the facility has the appropriate design, equipment, and management to comply with the Wisconsin Food Code and ATCP 75.
  • Once your application and plan review are complete, an inspector will contact you to schedule the pre-inspection.
  • Keep in mind that a new license, including change of ownership, requires the facility to get into full compliance before a license is issued. This includes all plumbing fixtures, commercially approved equipment, and approved surfaces.
  • Please review these Food Code Fact Sheets to familiarize yourself with the requirements of the food code. 

• Your License, Routine Inspections, and License Renewals

  • Your license is valid for one year from July through the following June. If you are licensed in April, May, or June, your license will not expire until June 30 of the following year.
  • You will have at least one annual inspection during the license year (not calendar year). If there are any complaints or foodborne illnesses attributed to your establishment, additional inspections will be conducted.
  • Renewal notices for annual license fees are sent out in April of each year. Annual license fees are due by the end of June.
  • If the license fee is not received or post marked by June 30, a late fee will be charged.

• Certified food Manager

  • For retail food establishments, a food manager is required if the establishment conducts meal services.
  • In ATCP 75, Meals are defined as: “food that is ordered by, prepared for, or served to a customer with or without a beverage and is obtained from the retail food establishment in a ready−to−eat form with the expectation of immediate consumption, although consumption may occur at another location. “Meal” does not include single−bite sized free food samples or an equivalent portion given away to demonstrate the characteristics of the food.”
  • For more information about Certified Food Manager training and requirements, visit: https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs_Services/foodmanager.aspx
  • Certified Food Manager classes are available with multiple organizations, including our department. Please see the following link for our Certified Food Manager Training. https://www.co.sauk.wi.us/environmental-health/training-opportunities

• Frequently Asked Questions