St. Louis County, MN Public Health Rules: Food Handler Certification (2026)
Key Facts
- Adopted rule
- Minn. Rules 4626.2000-4626.2025
- Enforcing agency
- Dept. of Public Health and Human Services
- Annual license deadline
- June 1, or before opening
- Criminal penalty
- Misdemeanor, up to $1,000/violation
- Civil penalty ceiling
- $2,000 per violation
Summary
St. Louis County's Food and Beverage Establishment Ordinance (No. 59) adopts Minnesota's Food Manager Certification rule and makes compliance with it a condition of getting a county food or beverage license. The Department of Public Health and Human Services administers licensing, and unlicensed operation is unlawful.
5.01 REQUIREMENT. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a food or beverage establishment within the County who does not possess a valid license for all aspects of his or her business... To qualify for a license, an applicant shall be an owner of the establishment, an officer of the legal ownership, or the manager of the food operation through lease or other agreement with the property owner; comply with the requirements of this Ordinance, the Minnesota Food Code, Certification of Food Managers Rule, and pay all applicable license fees at the time the application is submitted or before the establishment opens for business.
Full Breakdown
Ordinance No. 59 replaced the county's old Ordinance #6 and now governs every food or beverage service establishment in St. Louis County. 2025, known as the Food Manager Certification rule, as the ordinance's adopted standards. 01 makes it unlawful to operate a food or beverage establishment without a valid license, and it ties licensure directly to that certification: to qualify, an applicant must be an owner, corporate officer, or lease-holding manager of the operation and must comply with the ordinance, the Minnesota Food Code, and the Certification of Food Managers Rule before the Administrator, the Director of the county's Department of Public Health and Human Services or a designee, will issue the license.
01. The County Board functions as the local Board of Health by agreement with the Minnesota Commissioner of Health under Minn. 07, giving the Administrator authority to inspect, license, and enforce the Food Code and manager certification rule at every covered establishment.
Violations & Fines
Operating without the required license, or without a certified food manager where the rule applies, exposes the operator to criminal penalties under Chapter 10.01: a misdemeanor with a fine up to $1,000 per violation, with each day of continued violation a separate offense. The Board can also assess a civil penalty of up to $2,000 per violation under Section 10.02, and the Administrator may pursue injunctive relief to stop ongoing violations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do St. Louis County restaurants need a certified food manager?
When must a food license be renewed?
What's the penalty for operating without a license or certification?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Louis County
Compare St. Louis County to another location·View the Minnesota public health rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.