Subtitle 2 – License Required

Except as otherwise provided in this section, no person may operate a food service facility without a license to do so from the Commissioner of Health.

A food service facility may operate without a license issued by the Commissioner of Health if it:

A license may not be transferred from place to place or person to person.

An applicant for a license must:

In addition to any other information that the Commissioner requires, the application must contain building and installation plans and specifications.

On receipt of an application, the Commissioner must inspect the food service facility to determine compliance with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations.

To determine the degree of risk that a food service facility poses for a food-borne disease occurrence, the Commissioner must assess each food service facility and classify it in one of the following priority assessment categories, as defined in <cite data-doc="Code of Maryland Regulations" data-path="10.15.03.33">COMAR 10.15.03.33</cite>:

the requirements of all applicable laws, rules, and regulations have been met; and

the applicant pays the applicable annual fee.

No person may materially alter a food service facility (e.g., install new or additional equipment, make structural changes, or change the type of operation) without a permit to do so from the Commissioner.

The application for a permit under this section must be:

Unless sooner suspended or revoked, a license expires on the 1^st anniversary of its effective date.

Before a license expires, the licensee periodically may renew it for an additional 1-year term, if the license holder:

If a licensed food service facility is sold or otherwise transferred to a new owner, the new owner may apply for a short-term, provisional license to permit the continued operation of the facility pending the Commissioner’s inspection of the facility.

Unless sooner suspended or revoked: