Winnebago County, WI Public Health Rules: Restaurant Grade Cards (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required
- Annual, non-prorated
- Permit expires
- June 30 each year
- Grading/placard system
- None - permit-based only
- Administering agency
- Winnebago County Health Dept.
Summary
Winnebago County does not post letter-grade placards outside restaurants. Instead, the Health Department requires every retail food establishment to hold an annual permit, renewed each June 30, and can suspend or revoke it for violations under Chapter 11.
No person shall operate any establishment under the regulations of this Code without first obtaining a non-prorated permit from the Health Department. Such permits shall expire on June 30 of each year following their issuance except that permits initially issued during the period beginning on April 1 and ending June 30 shall expire June 30 of the following year. The issuance of a permit may be conditioned upon the Permittee correcting a violation of this ordinance within a specified period of time. If the condition is not met within the specified period of time, the permit shall be voided. The permit shall not be transferable to a location other than the one for which it was issued, nor shall a permit be transferred from one operator to another subject to the express exception of:
1. As to location, temporary permits may be transferred;
2. As to operator, a permit of a non-retail food establishment operator may be transferred to an individual who is an immediate family member of the operator
Full Breakdown
The Winnebago County Health Department is the designated state agent for restaurant inspection under §11.11, administering ATCP 75 (Retail Food) and related codes. No operator may run a retail food establishment without a non-prorated permit, which expires every June 30; permits can be conditioned on fixing a violation within a set time or voided if it is not. The Department may temporarily suspend or permanently revoke a permit for repeated violations, and inspectors can enter at reasonable hours to inspect premises, take samples, and copy records. The county publishes no separate A/B/C grading or placard system.
Violations & Fines
Operating without a required permit draws a separate fee under the county fee schedule; the Health Department can also suspend a permit immediately for an immediate danger to health or revoke it after repeated violations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Winnebago County grade restaurants with a letter or placard?
How often must a Winnebago County restaurant renew its permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Winnebago County
Compare Winnebago County to another location·View the Wisconsin public health rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.