Required for food service establishments to operate in the City of Alexandria. Food service establishments include: restaurants, carry-outs, caterers, cafeterias, grocery stores, convenience stores, bakeries, meat/poultry/seafood markets, commissaries, vending machines requiring refrigeration, and food services for businesses and facilities. 

Step 1: Submit a Food Establishment Plan Review Application and an application fee (payment details in form).

• You'll also need to submit a menu, plans, equipment specifications, information about your hot water heater, and information about your three-compartment sink. 

Step 2: Submit an Establishment Permit Application, a fee, and any additional forms explained in the permit application. You must re-apply for a permit every year, but you do not have to re-submit a plan review application.*

Step 3: Pass a pre-opening inspection. An environmental health specialist will then explain how regular inspections work. 

*You will need other permits and licenses to operate in Alexandria. Visit the Permit Center website for more information

Need Help? See our Applicant Guide

Required to operate a food truck, or mobile food establishment in the City of Alexandria. 

Step 1: Review our Mobile Food Vendor City of Alexandria Permitting Guide. This is very important because the City of Alexandria has different rules than Fairfax, Arlington, and other neighboring jurisdictions. 

Step 2: Submit a Food Establishment Plan Review Application and fee. 

Step 3: Submit any additional applications through the City's Permit Center. 

Need Help? View our Food Truck User Guide.

Required to sell or give away food at a public event with a fee at least 30 days before an event.  Temporary permits cannot be renewed.

Step 1: Submit a temporary food event coordinator permit. This must be submitted no matter how many vendors are at the event. Charitable organizations are not automatically exempt from permits or fees. 

Step 2: Each vendor must submit a temporary food event vendor permit and fee. 

Note: Additional permits from other city departments may be required. Visit Special Events Permits for more information. 

If you are preparing food on-site at a farmer's market (such as hot sandwiches), fill out a temporary event permit using the instructions above. 

If you are selling previously uncooked produce or previously prepared food (e.g. baked goods), you do not need to fill out a temporary event permit. However, please remember that all previously prepared food must be made in an approved kitchen. If you have questions, call AHD at 703.746.4910. 

See Also: 

• City Farmers Market Website

• Labeling Requirements from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Required to manage a permitted aquatic facility in the City of Alexandria (such as apartment community pools, condominium pools, hotel pools, recreation center pools, etc.)

How to Obtain an Aquatic Facility Permit in the City of Alexandria: 

Step 1: Submit a Plan Review Application prior to opening and pay the fee. 

Step 2: Every year, submit a Pool Management License Application with the appropriate application fee. 

Required to operate a hotel or short-term housing in the City of Alexandria. 

Step 1: Submit a plan review application and fee.

Step 2: Submit a hotel permit application and fee. You must renew this every year. 

Step 3: Submit any additional permit applications through the City's Permit Center. 

Required for both potable and non-potable wells (including geo-thermal wells) before drilling or abandonment. You must submit a plan review as well. See fee schedule below. 

Well Permit Application form

For specific plan requirements, please review our guide. If submitting well plans, call AHD at 703.746.4910 - wells require a different plan review process. 

Establishment plans, unless for a mobile food vendor, should be submitted to the Permit Processing center at 301 King Street before being brought to the Health Department.  All plans must be neat, legible, and drawn to scale, and include:

• A completed Construction or Revision Application with a Permit # designated by the Permit Processing Center.  Apply online through the Online Permit Center.
• All new and existing equipment specifications or cut sheets (the hot water heater specs must also be included!)
• A menu or list of services to be rendered
• A Health Department plan review fee 

Review times will vary based on the complexity of the project, the information provided, and health department capacity. Plans are processed on a first come first serve basis. Alexandria Health Department does not expedite any reviews. 

Here are some items that can help you plan your time accordingly: 

• Our office will approve or reject a completed plan submission within ten (10) business days of receipt.  A completed plan submission refers to a set of plans that includes all documents, drawings, and paperwork needed to verify that the proposed project will comply with our code and regulations.  If your original plans are rejected and a revision must be submitted, the revision submission will start a new ten (10) business day deadline.
• The plan review is not an approval to operate your establishment.
• The plan review does not include pre-opening inspections required after a permit application is submitted.  An approved plan does not guarantee a permit will be recommended during the first inspection.