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Bridgeport, CT Public Health Rules: Food Handler Certification (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Citation
Bridgeport Municipal Code § 8.20.210
Applies to
Class 2, 3 and 4 food establishments
Enforced by
Dept. of Health and Social Services
Exempt
Volunteer soup kitchens, bake sales

Summary

Bridgeport restaurants and most food establishments must employ a certified food protection manager who has passed an accredited exam.

Each class 2 food establishment, class 3 food establishment and class 4 food establishment shall employ a certified food protection manager. No person shall serve as a certified food protection manager unless such person has satisfactorily passed a test as part of a food protection manager certification program that is evaluated and approved by an accrediting agency recognized by the Conference for Food Protection...

Source: CT Department of Public HealthView official code

Full Breakdown

Under Municipal Code § 8.20.210, every Class 2, Class 3 and Class 4 food establishment in Bridgeport must employ a certified food protection manager. The certification must come from a program evaluated and approved by an accrediting agency recognized by the Conference for Food Protection. City food inspectors check for the certified manager during routine inspections under § 8.20.040, and licensing itself runs through the Department of Health and Social Services under § 8.20.030. Soup kitchens run entirely by volunteers and noncommercial functions like bake sales are exempted under § 8.20.060.

Violations & Fines

No certified manager on record at inspection is a code violation the Department of Health and Social Services can cite; operating a food establishment without the required license carries a fine of up to $100 per day under § 8.20.070's licensing penalty provisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does every Bridgeport food business need a certified manager?
Only Class 2, 3 and 4 establishments: those cooking, cooling or reheating food. Class 1 places selling only prepackaged or non-TCS items are not covered.
Who approves the certification program?
It must be evaluated and approved by an accrediting agency recognized by the Conference for Food Protection, per § 8.20.210.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Bridgeport

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All Bridgeport rules

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