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157.16 LICENSES REQUIRED; FEES.

Subdivision 1. License required annually.

A license is required annually for every person, firm, or corporation engaged in the business of conducting a food and beverage service establishment, hotel, motel, lodging establishment, public pool, or resort. Any person wishing to operate a place of business licensed in this section shall first make application, pay the required fee specified in this section, and receive approval for operation, including plan review approval. Seasonal and temporary food stands and special event food stands are not required to submit plans. Nonprofit organizations operating a special event food stand with multiple locations at an annual one-day event shall be issued only one license. Application shall be made on forms provided by the commissioner and shall require the applicant to state the full name and address of the owner of the building, structure, or enclosure, the lessee and manager of the food and beverage service establishment, hotel, motel, lodging establishment, public pool, or resort; the name under which the business is to be conducted; and any other information as may be required by the commissioner to complete the application for license.

Subd. 2. License renewal.

Initial and renewal licenses for all food and beverage service establishments, hotels, motels, lodging establishments, public pools, and resorts shall be issued for the calendar year for which application is made and shall expire on December 31 of such year. Any person who operates a place of business after the expiration date of a license or without having submitted an application and paid the fee shall be deemed to have violated the provisions of this chapter and shall be subject to enforcement action, as provided in the Health Enforcement Consolidation Act, sections 144.989 to 144.993. In addition, a penalty of $50 shall be added to the total of the license fee for any food and beverage service establishment operating without a license as a mobile food unit, a seasonal temporary or seasonal permanent food stand, or a special event food stand, and a penalty of $100 shall be added to the total of the license fee for all restaurants, food carts, hotels, motels, lodging establishments, public pools, and resorts operating without a license for a period of up to 30 days. A late fee of $300 shall be added to the license fee for establishments operating more than 30 days without a license.

Subd. 2a. Food manager certification.

An applicant for certification or certification renewal as a food manager must submit to the commissioner a $28 nonrefundable certification fee payable to the Department of Health.

Subd. 3. Establishment fees; definitions.

(a) The following fees are required for food and beverage service establishments, hotels, motels, lodging establishments, public pools, and resorts licensed under this chapter. Food and beverage service establishments must pay the highest applicable fee under paragraph (d), clause (1), (2), (3), or (4), and establishments serving alcohol must pay the highest applicable fee under paragraph (d), clause (6) or (7). The license fee for new operators previously licensed under this chapter for the same calendar year is one-half of the appropriate annual license fee, plus any penalty that may be required. The license fee for operators opening on or after October 1 is one-half of the appropriate annual license fee, plus any penalty that may be required.

(b) All food and beverage service establishments, except special event food stands, and all hotels, motels, lodging establishments, public pools, and resorts shall pay an annual base fee of $150.

(c) A special event food stand shall pay a flat fee of $40 annually. "Special event food stand" means a fee category where food is prepared or served in conjunction with celebrations, county fairs, or special events from a special event food stand as defined in section 157.15.

(d) In addition to the base fee in paragraph (b), each food and beverage service establishment, other than a special event food stand, and each hotel, motel, lodging establishment, public pool, and resort shall pay an additional annual fee for each fee category, additional food service, or required additional inspection specified in this paragraph:

(1) Limited food menu selection, $50. "Limited food menu selection" means a fee category that provides one or more of the following:

(i) prepackaged food that receives heat treatment and is served in the package;

(ii) frozen pizza that is heated and served;

(iii) a continental breakfast such as rolls, coffee, juice, milk, and cold cereal;

(iv) soft drinks, coffee, or nonalcoholic beverages; or

(v) cleaning for eating, drinking, or cooking utensils, when the only food served is prepared off site.

(2) Small establishment, including boarding establishments, $100. "Small establishment" means a fee category that has no salad bar and meets one or more of the following:

(i) possesses food service equipment that consists of no more than a deep fat fryer, a grill, two hot holding containers, and one or more microwave ovens;

(ii) serves dipped ice cream or soft serve frozen desserts;

(iii) serves breakfast in an owner-occupied bed and breakfast establishment;

(iv) is a boarding establishment; or

(v) meets the equipment criteria in clause (3), item (i) or (ii), and has a maximum patron seating capacity of not more than 50.

(3) Medium establishment, $260. "Medium establishment" means a fee category that meets one or more of the following:

(i) possesses food service equipment that includes a range, oven, steam table, salad bar, or salad preparation area;

(ii) possesses food service equipment that includes more than one deep fat fryer, one grill, or two hot holding containers; or

(iii) is an establishment where food is prepared at one location and served at one or more separate locations.

Establishments meeting criteria in clause (2), item (v), are not included in this fee category.

(4) Large establishment, $460. "Large establishment" means either:

(i) a fee category that (A) meets the criteria in clause (3), items (i) or (ii), for a medium establishment, (B) seats more than 175 people, and (C) offers the full menu selection an average of five or more days a week during the weeks of operation; or

(ii) a fee category that (A) meets the criteria in clause (3), item (iii), for a medium establishment, and (B) prepares and serves 500 or more meals per day.

(5) Other food and beverage service, including food carts, mobile food units, seasonal temporary food stands, and seasonal permanent food stands, $50.

(6) Beer or wine table service, $50. "Beer or wine table service" means a fee category where the only alcoholic beverage service is beer or wine, served to customers seated at tables.

(7) Alcoholic beverage service, other than beer or wine table service, $135.

"Alcohol beverage service, other than beer or wine table service" means a fee category where alcoholic mixed drinks are served or where beer or wine are served from a bar.

(8) Lodging per sleeping accommodation unit, $8, including hotels, motels, lodging establishments, and resorts, up to a maximum of $800. "Lodging per sleeping accommodation unit" means a fee category including the number of guest rooms, cottages, or other rental units of a hotel, motel, lodging establishment, or resort; or the number of beds in a dormitory.

(9) First public pool, $180; each additional public pool, $100. "Public pool" means a fee category that has the meaning given in section 144.1222, subdivision 4.

(10) First spa, $110; each additional spa, $50. "Spa pool" means a fee category that has the meaning given in Minnesota Rules, part 4717.0250, subpart 9.

(11) Private sewer or water, $50. "Individual private water" means a fee category with a water supply other than a community public water supply as defined in Minnesota Rules, chapter 4720. "Individual private sewer" means a fee category with an individual sewage treatment system which uses subsurface treatment and disposal.

(12) Additional food service, $130. "Additional food service" means a location at a food service establishment, other than the primary food preparation and service area, used to prepare or serve food to the public.

(13) Additional inspection fee, $300. "Additional inspection fee" means a fee to conduct the second inspection each year for elementary and secondary education facility school lunch programs when required by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act.

(e) A fee of $350 for review of the construction plans must accompany the initial license application for restaurants, hotels, motels, lodging establishments, or resorts with five or more sleeping units.

(f) When existing food and beverage service establishments, hotels, motels, lodging establishments, or resorts are extensively remodeled, a fee of $250 must be submitted with the remodeling plans. A fee of $250 must be submitted for new construction or remodeling for a restaurant with a limited food menu selection, a seasonal permanent food stand, a mobile food unit, or a food cart, or for a hotel, motel, resort, or lodging establishment addition of less than five sleeping units.

(g) Seasonal temporary food stands and special event food stands are not required to submit construction or remodeling plans for review.

Subd. 3a. Statewide hospitality fee.

Every person, firm, or corporation that operates a licensed boarding establishment, food and beverage service establishment, seasonal temporary or permanent food stand, special event food stand, mobile food unit, food cart, resort, hotel, motel, or lodging establishment in Minnesota must submit to the commissioner a $35 annual statewide hospitality fee for each licensed activity. The fee for establishments licensed by the Department of Health is required at the same time the licensure fee is due. For establishments licensed by local governments, the fee is due by July 1 of each year.

Subd. 4. Posting requirements.

Every food and beverage service establishment, hotel, motel, lodging establishment, public pool, or resort must have the license posted in a conspicuous place at the establishment.

Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes