Step 4 — Food Service Plan Review (Fulton County EHS)

What Is a Food Service Plan Review?

Before you can receive a Food Service Permit in Fulton County, the Environmental Health Services (EHS) department must review and approve your facility plans. This is required under Georgia Rules and Regulations for Food Service, Chapter 511-6-1 (most recently updated February 2025).

Plan review is a separate process from the City of Atlanta building permit. Submit to both agencies in parallel to save time.

What Fulton County EHS Reviews

• Kitchen layout and workflow — food must flow logically from receiving → storage → prep → cooking → service, minimizing cross-contamination risk
• Equipment specifications — all food contact equipment must be NSF International certified or equivalent (list model numbers on your plans)
• Handwashing stations — must be dedicated (cannot double as prep sinks), conveniently located within prep and service areas, stocked with soap and paper towels
• Three-compartment sink — required for manual ware-washing; must be sized for your largest utensils
• Ventilation — hood systems must comply with NFPA 96 and local fire code; specs must be included in plan submission
• Plumbing — adequate hot water capacity (minimum 110°F at sinks), mop sink required, backflow prevention on all connections
• Food storage — refrigerated, freezer, and dry storage must be sized to your menu volume and hold proper temperatures
• Pest exclusion — all utility penetrations, doors, and windows must be sealed; door sweeps required

How to Apply

1. Download the Food Service Establishment Plan Review Application from fultoncountyboh.com
2. Prepare scaled facility drawings showing: all equipment (with model numbers), plumbing connections, handwashing stations, three-compartment sink, mop sink, storage areas, and ventilation
3. Attach your complete menu — EHS uses this to determine equipment and storage requirements
4. Attach equipment spec sheets for all major items
5. Submit the package with the required fee

Fulton County Board of Health — Environmental Health Services 10 Park Place SE, Atlanta, GA 30303 Phone: (770) 520-7500 Website: fultoncountyboh.com

Fee Structure

Fees are based on the type and size of the establishment. Contact EHS directly for current fee schedules — typically $100–$300 for plan review.

Timeline

• Initial review: 2–4 weeks
• If corrections are required: add 1–2 weeks per revision cycle
• Submit early — plan review approval must be in hand before scheduling your pre-opening inspection

Most Common Plan Review Rejections

What SpoonSeal tracks

The document(s) you upload for this requirement, with automatic renewal/expiration tracking (Current, Due Soon, Expired). Where the city publishes health-inspection results (e.g., NYC and Chicago), SpoonSeal syncs them automatically; elsewhere they can be added manually.