Virginia Beach food establishments must employ at least one Certified Food Protection Manager on staff under Virginia Food Regulations, who oversees safe food handling during all hours of operation.
Virginia Food Regulations 12VAC5-421 (under Virginia Code §35.1-14) require each restaurant, deli, and food service operation to designate a Certified Food Protection Manager who has passed an ANSI-CFP accredited exam such as ServSafe. The certificate must be current and on file at the establishment. Virginia Beach Health Department inspectors verify certification during routine inspections and may issue corrective notices when no certified manager is present. Virginia does not require every food worker to hold an individual handler card, but most local employers train staff in basic food safety as part of onboarding.
Operating without a current Certified Food Protection Manager is a critical violation under 12VAC5-421 that triggers corrective notices, possible reinspection fees, and could escalate to permit suspension on repeat offenses.
See how Virginia Beach's food handler certification rules stack up against other locations.
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