Gulfport, MS Public Health Rules: Food Handler Certification (2026)

Section 4-56 defines a "food handling establishment" broadly to include buffets, restaurants, bakeries, grocery stores, meat and fish markets and any other place where food is processed, served, prepared, sold or consumed on the premises, and defines the required "permit" as a certificate from the county health department stating that the business meets both this article's requirements and state board of health regulations. Section 4-58 makes that county health department permit a prerequisite to obtaining the city's privilege license: an applicant must get the permit first, it applies to only one place of business, and it is not assignable to another owner or location.

Section 4-59 authorizes the county health department to issue, refuse or investigate permits, including refusing an application if the premises doesn't meet state board of health standards or if the department learns from a reliable source that the applicant isn't a proper person to run the business on public-health grounds; every permit holder must run the establishment in a clean and sanitary manner and is barred from selling spoiled or adulterated food. Section 4-60 separately requires perishable food on display, such as fruit, meat and baked goods, to be kept under screening to protect it from flies, and Section 4-61 requires single-use cups for soda fountains and sterilized utensils between uses. This is an establishment-level health certificate tied to the county health department, not a personal food handler training card for individual employees.