West Haven, CT Public Health Rules: Restaurant Grade Cards (2026)

Chapter 115 of the West Haven code, adopted by the City Council on 4-22-1985 as Ord. No. 227, runs restaurant oversight through the Director of Health rather than a grading system. Section 115-1 adopts by reference the Connecticut Public Health Code sections on food service establishments (19-13-B42), catering (19-13-B49), itinerant food vending (19-13-B48) and sanitation of foodstuffs (19-13-B40). Section 115-11 then requires the Director to inspect licensed premises, equipment and operation periodically, and to issue an order for full compliance when a violation is found.

When an establishment, conveyance or vehicle fails inspection, the manager or the vehicle's owner must pay a $100 reinspection fee and attend a 1/2 hour education and consultation session at the West Haven Health Department before reinspection, or the license can be revoked. Section 115-9(A)(5) separately lists a reinspection fee of $25 per priority violation. No score hangs in the window: under § 115-7(A) the license itself must be posted in a conspicuous place within the licensed establishment within easy reading distance of patrons, and it cannot be transferred from one person or place to another.

Annual license fees under § 115-9 follow the class assigned under the Public Health Code: Class 1 is $175, Class 2 is $275, Class 3 is $375 and Class 4 is $475. Licenses expire on April 30 of each year. The Director has a right of entry at any reasonable time under § 115-5, and under § 115-18 places a hold order on food believed unfit for human consumption; the operator has 48 hours to request a hearing or the food is destroyed. Before a new restaurant opens, plans and a $50 plan review fee go to the Director 20 calendar days before a license or building permit issues (§ 115-3), and § 115-4 requires a preoperational inspection.