Restaurants

503-988-3400

eh.front.office@multco.us

All restaurants and food establishments must be licensed and pass regular health inspections to assure that the facility meets food safety standards. This applies to restaurants that sell food to the public from a set address, including bed and breakfasts.

You must obtain a plan review and license before:

Opening a new restaurant
Remodeling a restaurant

You must also contact us if your menu changes or if you are changing ownership.

Good to Know

Prior to receiving your license from us, there may be other agencies from which you will be required to obtain approvals. These include, but are not limited to:

Planning (zoning)
Building codes (structural, electrical, plumbing, prefabricated structures)
Fire marshal
City or county authorities

Food handler cards are required for all restaurant workers. You can take the test online.

Bed and breakfasts must also obtain a lodging permit.

Food businesses in Portland will be required to compost their food scraps, starting in 2023 for some businesses.

Requirements

Plan Review Requirements (71.81 KB)
Oregon Food Sanitation Rules

Get a License

If you're building or remodeling a restaurant

You must first obtain a plan review. Send us:

A completed Restaurant Plan Review Application (117.94 KB)
2 sets of plans
The plan review fee payment

You will receive a response within 15 business days. Once you’ve received a plan approval letter, you may begin construction. You may then submit your Restaurant/Bed & Breakfast License Application (73.39 KB) and fee payment.

Once construction is complete, call us to arrange a pre-opening inspection. This usually occurs within 1 week of your call. You must receive and pass the pre-opening inspection before you can open.

After a food service license has been acquired, the restaurant will receive its first inspection within a few weeks.

If you're a new owner:

Send us the following:

Restaurant/Bed & Breakfast License Application (73.39 KB) or
Aplicación de Licencia para Restaurante y Bed & Breakfast (82.54 KB)
Change of Ownership Form (78 KB)
License fee payment

We will review your application and determine whether a plan review is needed.

Application Forms

Plan Review Requirements (71.81 KB)
Plan Review Instructions (59.27 KB)
Restaurant Plan Review Application (117.94 KB)

Restaurant/Bed & Breakfast License Application (73.39 KB)
Aplicación de Licencia para Restaurante y Bed & Breakfast (82.54 KB)

Change of Ownership Form (78 KB)
Menu Items (53.23 KB)

Fees

Based on the number of seats inside the restaurant.

0-15 seats: $730
16-50 seats: $865
51-150 seats: $970
Over 150 seats: $1,160

Bed & Breakfast: $315
Limited service (pre-packaged items only): $670

Plan Review:

New construction: $950
Remodel: $890
New construction rush $2,840
Remodel rush $2,680

Restaurant recheck fee (after two rechecks): $205

Fee Schedule (59.74 KB)

Pay Fees Online

We'll email you an invoice and you can pay online using your invoice number. Make a payment»

Renew

Licenses are good for one calendar year. Renew your license by paying the license fee by January 1 of each year.

Routine Inspections

Environmental health specialists conduct twice yearly inspections to ensure operations follow Oregon’s Food Sanitation Rules.

Inspections are unannounced, and at the end the restaurant will receive a score. The inspection results are posted to the public on this website.

During an inspection, health inspectors will:

Evaluate food workers’ practices, including how foods are received and stored, and how food is processed and cooked.
Evaluate cooling, holding and reheating temperatures.
Report observed violations not in compliance with the food rules.