The Kansas Department of Agriculture issues two types of food licenses to food businesses. They are food establishment (restaurants, grocery stores, convenience stores, schools, bakeries, delicatessens, bars, drinking establishments, senior meal sites, caterers and mobile food units) and food processor (food wholesalers, food warehouses, food re-packers, and food manufacturers). A business may be required to have both licenses, depending on their operation.

To receive a license, the facility must pass a licensing inspection and the licensee must submit a signed license application along with the appropriate fees. Fees include an application and an annual license fee.

Payment may be made by credit card, check, cashiers check or money order. Cash payments are only accepted in the Kansas Department of Agriculture's Manhattan office. For credit card payments, please complete and submit the credit card and electronic payment form along with the license application.

All licenses expire each year on March 31. The law does not allow us to prorate the license fees.

Visit Food Safety, Egg, and Lodging Forms to print our applications, visit our FAQ page, or see below for more information.

Food Establishment License

A business that prepares or offers food for immediate consumption is required to have a Food Establishment License. These food establishments include restaurants, senior meal sites and kitchens, special events, caterers and mobile food units.

The Mobile Unit Log must be used with the Food Establishment Application for any mobile units applying for a license.

A food business that is an Unattended Food Establishment, often called a Micro Market, is required to have a Food Establishment Category IV License.

Schools receiving National School Lunch Program Funds are required to have two inspections per year. The application fee, which is only paid on initial licensing, is $200. The annual license fee for each school lunch program is $415. The annual license fee for each satellite school lunch program is $340.

A school lunch program is considered a satellite if the food is delivered from the central kitchen and no food preparation occurs on-site, except for portioning and serving.

The Kansas Food Code gives you the regulations for food service facilities. Food Code changes will give you a quick list of changes from the 2012 Kansas Food Code.

The Kansas Food Code (Code) allows for Code requirements to be met using equivalent operating plans, when approved by KDA, if no health hazard or nuisance is created. In order to request approval for an equivalent operating plan, please complete the Equivalent Operating Plan (formerly Variance) Request Form (fillable) and submit it to the Food Safety Program by email KDA.FSL@ks.gov, fax (785) 564-7490, or regular mail. Please attach any supporting documentation such as lab testing reports or HACCP plans.

Focus on Food Safety Materials will assist you in giving your food staff the knowledge and training needed to keep food safe.

Food Processor or Food Storage License

The food processing and storage application has been divided into two categories. Category one is for facilities that process and store food. Category two is for facilities that only store food. A food processing plant that processes and stores food will not be required to obtain a separate license for food storage. The total square footage of the facility will be used in determining the license fee for a food processing plant that processes and stores food.

Food Processing Plant

Processing includes manufacturing, preparing, packaging, labeling, cooking, canning, extracting, extruding, fermenting, distilling, pickling, freezing, baking, drying, smoking, grinding, cutting, mixing, coating, stuffing, packing, bottling, packaging or any other treatment or preservation process, the receipt and salvaging of distressed food for sale or distribution to other business entities such as food establishments, food warehouses and other food processing plants.

Food Storage Facility

Storing includes any premises, establishment, building, room area, facility or place, in whole or in part, where food is stored, kept or held, regardless of whether the food is temperature controlled, for distribution to other wholesalers, retail food stores, food service establishments or any other facility that sells or distributes to the ultimate consumer.

Food License Online Renewal

Renewals have been e-mailed to businesses that have an e-mail associated with them.

To pay for your upcoming license renewal(s) on-line go to Renewals and click on 'New Account' prior to April 30.  Licenses not renewed by April 30 must reapply and pay the License Application Fee in addition to the License Fee.

If your business created a user ID last year, you will find the user ID on the renewal under External Username. If it is blank, you will need to create a user name and password for your first time. Once you have an account you may add the Business Code(s) from your renewal form(s) to your account so they may be paid together.

You will need to select the check box next to the facilities you'd like to renew. Click the process payments button and follow online instructions.

Once your payment has been processed you will get an e-mail confirmation.

You will receive an e-mail containing your license, at the email address listed in the business account information. You will need to print this license and post it where it is visible to the public. If you do not have an email address, please contact our office at (785) 564-6767. Please allow 7-10 days to receive it.

If you are unable to renew online, paper copies will be mailed out the first week of March to businesses that have not paid to date.

Please contact the program at 785-564-6767 or KDA.FSL@ks.gov if you have additional questions.

The Kansas Business Center is a one-stop-shop for information and resources that new and existing business owners will need in order to do business in Kansas.