starting and operating a restaurant

(adapted from the MCDA publication "Starting a business in Minneapolis")

If you plan to open a restaurant in Minneapolis or take over the operation of an existing one, three city agencies will help you to establish and maintain the business: the Minneapolis Zoning Office, the Minneapolis Licenses and Consumer Services Division, and the Minneapolis Environmental Health Division.

Start with the zoning office, which can help you determine whether your site is zoned properly, review your site plan, and refer you to other city agencies. Schedule an appointment with a zoning inspector in advance (673-5836). If you are Spanish-speaking, the zoning office can arrange to have a translator available for your visit - provided you call in advance.

City permits licenses and approvals are required, depending on the nature of your food business. The regulatory process is streamlined for smaller establishments such as coffee shops, which do not prepare food on site. More approvals are required for full-service restaurants that maintain large, off-street parking lots and serve wine, beer, or liquor.

Even if you plan to take over the operation of an existing restaurant and do not plan to remodel it, you must have an approved site plan for your new business. You may be able to prepare a minor site plan (see chapter 4) if your restaurant is located in a storefront and you maintain no more than nine off-street parking spaces. The zoning office staff may approve minor site plans on an administrative basis. If you plan to operate a larger restaurant with more than nine off-street parking spaces, you must prepare a major site plan, which requires approval by the City Planning Commission. You must obtain site-plan approval even if you do not own the building that houses your restaurant.

If you intend to operate an existing restaurant, you must obtain an updated license from the licenses division. Here you can obtain a provisional or temporary license enabling you to operate the business while the other city reviews are underway. Contact the environmental health division to see whether you need an environmental health plan. You may need a health plan if you are changing the restaurant's menu, even if you are not remodeling the space. It's a good idea to contact the environmental health division before you sign a purchase agreement. The division can arrange for a health inspector to visit the restaurant before you buy it.

If you plan to open a new, remodeled, or expanded restaurant, you need approval for a health plan from the environmental health division, in addition to license and site-plan approvals. 

The Minneapolis Environmental Health Department distributes this fact sheet:

A. Plan review information

If you plan to start a new food business or remodel, alter, or expand an existing business in Minneapolis, contact:
1. Zoning Department (612-673-5836)
2. Licensing Department—call to apply for license (612-673-2080)
3. Environmental Health District Sanitarian (612-673-2170)
4. Environmental Health Plan Reviewer (612-673-3592)
5. Minneapolis Department of Inspections (612-673-5800)

B. Requirements

1. The plan-review fee must be paid with a check or money order when you submit the plans and specifications. The following fee structure applies:

• 1 - 1,000 square feet: $100
• 1,001 - 5,000 square feet: $150
• Greater than 5,001 square feet: $200

2. Submit two complete sets of plans to the Division of Environmental Health (250 S. Fourth St., Rm. 401, Public Service Center). Plans must be approved before construction and/or installation begin. Plans must include:

a. Establishment name and address as it appears on the license application
b. Contact person (name, address, and phone number)
c. Proposed construction starting and completion dates
d. Type of license(s) applied for
e. Customer seating capacity if seating is provided
f. Number of employees of both genders present at any one time
g. Site plan clearly illustrating the building location, streets, and surrounding area
h. Building floor plan clearly illustrating the portion that the food business will occupy
i. Architectural floor plans drawn to scale of all areas that the food business will be using (including room-finish schedules specifying finishes for the floor, base cove, walls, ceiling, etc.; and refrigerator/freezer walk-in units)
j. Food-equipment plan, drawn to scale, illustrating the layout of equipment, labeled to correspond to an equipment schedule
k. Equipment cut sheets organized and labeled to corresponding to the equipment schedule 

3. Menu and/or list of food products that the business is handling. Include a written explanation of details that may affect the type of equipment that may be required.

4. Proof of Minneapolis Food Manager Certification. For information, call 612-673-3697. If you will be processing potentially hazardous food products, you must provide this information before opening your business.

5. Approved plans are valid for six months. After your plans are approved, you must submit any revisions for reevaluation. 

6. A set of stamped approved plans must be available at the construction site.

7. Call well in advance for an appointment for final inspection and approval to open for business. Construction must be completed to the degree that the establishment is sanitary enough to bring in food and start operation without concern for cross-contamination.

8. Equipment

a. All equipment must meet current National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) standards or equivalent.
b. Used equipment must be approved by the Minneapolis Environmental Health Services before installation. 

9. Construction Permit(s): Apply for proper construction and installation permits at the Department of Inspections by presenting your approved plans.

C. Turn-around Time

Plans will be reviewed within 10 working days. Incomplete plan additions or plan revisions will be evaluated within 10 working days of date received. 

D. Site Evaluation (optional)

A site evaluation may be requested. This will be done by appointment only. Call 612-673-2170 to determine whether to contact the plan reviewer or the district sanitarian.

E. Plan Review Manual

The Food Service Construction Guide is available for purchase the Minneapolis Division of Environmental Health for $5. A copy of the Minneapolis Food Code is available for purchase for $6 ($10 if mailed).

F. License

Apply for the proper type of food license from the Department of Licenses and Consumer Services (Rm. 1C, City Hall, 350 S. Fifth St.) at least four weeks before you open. The license application must be approved and final inspections must be conducted before you open for business.