Norfolk, VA Public Health Rules: Food Handler Certification (2026)

1-17(a) makes it unlawful for any person to work or be employed in any capacity in a food establishment without first completing the requirements for, and obtaining, a food service employee or food service manager card issued by the director of public health, and subsection (b) makes it equally unlawful for an operator to employ or keep employing someone without a valid card. Applicants must furnish information, laboratory specimens and submit to physical exams or tests the director requires, or complete the director's hygiene and sanitation instruction; the director may issue a temporary card valid for no more than thirty days while that process is underway.

A card issued by another Virginia city, county or organization is honored until it expires if that jurisdiction's requirements equaled or exceeded Norfolk's, as determined by the director. Cards are not transferable between people, must be produced on request for inspection, and are renewed by paying the prescribed fee and completing whatever further training or testing the director sets. 1-18 separately requires every food establishment to employ a food service manager to supervise its food service employees, with the manager's name posted in letters at least one inch tall; one manager generally may not supervise employees at two or more establishments unless the director, after a risk assessment, allows it for up to two locations.

Establishments selling only prepackaged, sealed food, temporary food establishments, and other operations the director designates after a risk assessment are exempt from the manager requirement, and the director may waive card requirements in writing for temporary special events.