Hennepin County requires all Food, Beverage and Lodging facilities to have no smoking signs at every public entrance in their facility.

The MCIAA does not prohibit outdoor smoking at your facility, regardless of distance from building openings. However, be aware that every city may have different local government ordinances regarding the allowance of outdoor secondhand smoke. Please contact your local government to be updated on local ordinances and to ensure that you are in compliance. Establishments may also create their own outdoor smoking policies, i.e. Outdoor smoking is prohibited in patio area.

For more information and resources on MCIAA please visit the Minnesota Department of Health's website.

Back to top

Starting a food business in Hennepin County can be an exciting and daunting task. As an owner in our jurisdiction, it is your responsibility to consider everything that will make your business compliant with the Minnesota Food Code and Hennepin County Ordinance 3. Obtaining a food license is one of the most important steps in ensuring compliance. Under MN Rule 4626.1755-1780 in conjunction with Hennepin County Ordinance 3 Section 4, nobody shall operate a food establishment without first obtaining a license.

If someone you know is interested in using your facility’s space for their business, they must obtain a license from the proper licensing agency. It is important to understand that without a proper license, any activity that is taking place in your licensed kitchen becomes your liability as the license holder. According to the Minnesota Food Code and Hennepin County Ordinance 3, licenses are NOT transferable by person or place. Also, a plan review must be submitted for review by the person interested in sharing your facility space. It needs to be determined if the facility can support both operations, prior to approval for their license to operate.

It is also important to remember that a restaurant license allows you to cook and prepare food within the walls of your restaurant only. Cooking and preparing outdoors is not allowed unless you have a temporary special event/ itinerant license from the Health Department. Wait staff may bring food from the kitchen to customers sitting outdoors or customers may visit a buffet line indoors and take the food outdoors without an additional license. To obtain an itinerant license visit our website for an application.

To learn more about the licensing process, visit the Plan Review tab on our website or call our main office at 612-543-5200 to speak with an inspector on call. 

There are requirements for the minimum and maximum temperature that is allowed at the hand washing sinks in a food establishment as stated below in Ordinance 3 (Food Protection). Note that the maximum allowable water temperature in a sink that is used by children is lower than that of other food establishments.

Section 7: STANDARDS FOR HEALTH, SAFETY, AND NUISANCE PREVENTION.

E. Minnesota Rules, Chapter 4626.1050, A is amended to read as follows: A hand washing lavatory shall be equipped to provide water to the user through a mixing valve or combination faucet, at a temperature of at least 43 degrees C (110 degrees F), but not more than 54 degrees C (130 degrees F) in a food establishment and not more than 48 degrees C (120 degrees F), in a sink that is used by children such as a school, day care, or preschool.