Champaign-Urbana Public Health District

Step 1 – Plan Review Packet

1. Download or view the following documents or call our office to request a packet. If the physical location of your facility or commissary is/will be within Champaign or Urbana city limits, download or view the C-U documents. For other areas of Champaign County, use the County documents.

Forms:

Plan Review Application (C-U or County)
Commissary Agreement (mobile units only)
Toilet Facilities Agreement (mobile units only)

Additional Documents for Review:

Plan Review Construction Guide (C-U or County / Spanish / Chinese) – note: 27 pages / read carefully
Fee Schedule (C-U or County)
General Information (C-U or County)
Food Code
Mobile Food Service Requirements (English / Spanish / Chinese)
Mobile Unit FAQs
Water Heater Worksheet - Instantaneous Heater (Excel file)
Water Heater Worksheet - Storage Heater (Excel file)

2. Complete the plan review application and gather all related documents (paper copies, please). For a list of documents to be submitted, please see the plan review application.

Note: If the facility will use a private septic system or private water well, the septic system or well must be approved before a health permit will be issued.

Step 2 – Submittal of Plans

1. Submit your complete plan review packet to our office. Please be sure that you submit all requested documents. Incomplete packets will not be processed and will be returned due to missing information.
   
2. Upon receipt, your packet will be date-stamped and placed on our plan review waiting list. Plan review packets are reviewed in the order they are received. There are no exceptions. Note that the waiting time for your plans to be reviewed is approximately 30 business days. Please plan accordingly.

Step 3 – While Waiting for Plans to be Reviewed

1. As noted above, contact the city or village where your facility is/will be located and/or operated. They may have building/code inspections, permits or other requirements that must be met. Here are links to the building safety departments at the city of Champaign and the city of Urbana.
   
2. Get certified. Before your health permit will be issued, you must provide proof of at least one person on staff who has obtained a Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) certificate. This applies to Category 1 and Category 2 facilities. All CFPM staff in Category 1 restaurants will also need to complete Allergen Awareness training. See our food worker training page for information about certification classes and allergen training.
   
3. All other staff members that are considered food handlers must obtain Food Handler Certificates (FHC). Click here for information about food handler training.
   
4. Complete a Standard Operating Procedures Worksheet (CU or County / Spanish / Chinese). Please submit the completed worksheet within 30 days after you submit your plan review packet. Failure to submit the worksheet within the specified timeframe will result in a delay of the review of your plans.
   
5. You will need an Illinois Business Tax (IBT) number. Contact the Illinois Department of Revenue to obtain an IBT number. If your organization is not-for-profit, you may need to apply for tax exempt status. Health permit fees are waived for organizations that can provide proof of Illinois sales tax exemption.
   
6. If you will be located and/or operating in Champaign or Urbana, contact their finance departments regarding food and beverage taxes.
   
7. You may need to register your business with Champaign County.
   

Step 4 – Review of Plans

1. Once your project reaches the top of the waiting list, your plans will be reviewed. After your plans have been reviewed, you will receive one of two letters:

Plans Approved:

If your plans were approved as submitted, with no changes needed, you will be sent a Letter of Design Approval indicating that you may proceed with construction or remodeling of your facility.

Plans Not Approved; Changes Required:

If there are changes that will be required, you will receive a Letter of Plan Review Comments indicating the changes to your plans that need to be made. You must respond in writing to each item noted in the letter, indicating how you will resolve the problems with your plans. After all issues have been resolved, you will be issued a Letter of Design Approval indicating that you may proceed with construction or remodeling of your facility.

No construction or remodeling should take place until after you receive the Letter of Design Approval. Otherwise, the possibility exists that modifications to the facility may have to be made in order to meet code standards, resulting in wasted time and money.

Step 5 – Pre-operational Inspections

1. After final approval has been granted, your health permit and city food license (if applicable) will be issued. To obtain your permit, you must submit a fully completed health permit application, proof of CFPM staff (if applicable) and fee(s). Health permit fees are waived for not-for-profit organizations that can provide proof of Illinois sales tax exemption.
   
   Annual health permit application (C-U or County)
   Vehicle identification form (C-U or County) – additional form for mobile units only.
   
2. Once your health permit has been issued, and you have met all city/village requirements, you may accept delivery of food/beverage products and open for business.