Grand Forks, ND Public Health Rules: Food Handler Certification (2026)

Section 13-0204 requires the person in charge of a food service establishment, as defined in the 2017 version of the FDA Model Food Code, to be a certified food manager for each establishment except satellite or catered feeding locations. The section lists six categories exempt from the certified manager requirement: a level 1 facility serving only low-risk food items as determined by the Public Health Department's risk assessment; operations limited to processing raw meat, poultry, fish or wild game intended for cooking after sale; institutional facilities such as a school, hospital or assisted living facility that provide other professional food safety training not accredited under the adopted food code; a food cart, mobile food unit or seasonal temporary food stand; a nonprofit organization whose primary activity is not food service; and a childcare or bed-and-breakfast facility.

Section 13-0202 adopts the 2017 FDA Model Food Code by reference, designates the City of Grand Forks as the "regulatory authority" under that code, and specifically adopts Section 2-102.12 of the Model Food Code, the certified food protection manager provision, as amended by Section 13-0204, while deleting the Model Food Code's own inspection-interval and correction-timeframe sections. The Grand Forks Public Health Department inspects retail food establishments as often as necessary based on risk categorization tied to the type of food served, preparation steps, volume and population served, and prior compliance history, under Section 13-0205.