Portland, ME Public Health Rules: Food Handler Certification (2026)

Sec. 11-10(a) of the Food and Food Handlers chapter requires 'at least one employee granted supervisory and management responsibility designated a Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) as defined in Section 1.201.10.B of Maine State Food Code 2013.' Proof of CFPM certification is required at four checkpoints: before any new Chapter 15 food license issues, before any Chapter 15 license renews, within 60 days of the date the certified manager leaves employment, and at the time of any inspection by the City's Health Inspector. Proof goes to the City Food Inspector, who must certify compliance to the Permitting and Inspections Department before a Chapter 15 license can be issued, the department will not process the license without that sign-off.

Sec. 11-10(b) makes noncompliance grounds for the Permitting and Inspections Department to deny, suspend, or revoke the establishment's Chapter 15 license. Separately, and in addition to any license action, violating the replacement-window or on-demand-proof requirements in subsections 11-10(a)(3) and (4), failing to certify a new CFPM within 60 days of a departure, or failing to produce proof at an inspection, triggers a flat $150.00 penalty per violation. The rule traces to the city's 2015 amendment ordinance (Ord. No. 208-14/15) and was most recently amended by Ord. No. 18-17/18 in 2017.