Applying for a business permit to open a food service business or a restaurant in Westchester County is a complex process. There are other documentations and certifications that must be submitted, as corollary requirements of the of the original business permit application.

The Business Certificate

First off, opening a restaurant business requires submission a notarized Business Certificate, as well as payment of the corresponding fee at the office of the Westchester County Clerk. That is if the food service business is a single proprietorship or a partnership.

This stands in contrast to those that operate as a corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership organization, as application for such, will instead be coursed through the New York State Department of State, Division of Corporations.

The Business Certificate serves as attestation that the name of the business, of the person entered as registrant and of the address appearing therein, is the owner of the business operating under stated business name, located in the Westchester County address indicated.

An applicant must make sure that the business name he or she intends to use is still not in use by checking its availability under the Westchester Records Online. To conduct the search, go to Legal Records and from there, choose Business Records.

Food Manager’s Safety Protection Certification

Currently, there are about 4,000 food service establishments operating in Westchester County, comprising restaurants, delis, and mobile food carts. All of them had to secure approval from the Westchester County Health Department to ensure that they are in compliance with the preliminary requirements of state and county sanitary codes.

Food service managers of new establishments seeking to offer food as business are required to take ServSafe, a food and beverage safety training and certificate program as basic credential of the business management staff.

The Westchester Health Department requires that at least one food manager for every shift must have taken and passed ServSafe. That is mainly because the manager presently in charge at the business location must be able to present a Food Manager’s Safety Protection Certification during inspections conducted by the health department.

Workers Compensation/Disability Insurance Certification

This is another documentation that must be completed in order to submit a fully accomplished Application for an Original Permit to Operate a Food Service Establishment.

All Westchester County employers with contracts to employ 3 or more employees are required to obtain workers compensation insurance from an independent insurance agent. The insurance agent will then be the issuing party of the Worker’s Compensation Certificate of Insurance that the Westchester County requires before granting approval of the Original Permit to Operate a Food Service Establishment.