Skip to main content

Child Care Facilities

Children are at higher risk of severe reactions to illnesses, including foodborne illnesses.

Salt Lake County Health Department regulates commercial child care facilities that prepare and serve food of any kind, and we inspect residential child care facilities before they get or renew their Utah Department of Health and Human Services license to operate.

We also offer a nutrition education program, called TOP Star, for child care settings.

Child Care Facilities

The State of Utah requires that the local health department inspect home kitchens before the occupant obtains their Utah Department of Health and Human Services license to operate a residential child care facility.

To request an inspection of your residential child care facility in Salt Lake County:

  1. Complete the Application for Food Service Inspection
  2. Mail it, with payment for the current inspection fee of $85, to:
    Salt Lake County Health Department
    Environmental Health Division
    788 East Woodoak Lane
    Murray, UT 84107

    You may also submit the application online and then call us at the number below to pay the fee by credit card.

The inspection will ensure that:

  • Food prepared by the caregiver or brought in by the parents is provided from an approved source.
  • Food brought in by parents for a child’s use is labeled.
  • Open baby food is refrigerated, held for less than 24 hours, and if it is infant formula or breast milk that it is discarded two hours after initiating a feeding.
  • The refrigerator is clean, temperature is below 41° F, and a thermometer is placed inside that measures ambient air temperature.
  • A probe thermometer is available that measures food temperatures.
  • Caregivers have a current food handler card.
  • Food is served on clean and sanitized utensils, equipment, plates, etc.
  • Reusable food containers, utensils, and prep surfaces are washed, rinsed, and sanitized with an approved sanitizer before each use.
  • Personal cleanliness hand washing facilities are stocked and available, hair restraints are in use, and outer clothing is clean.
  • Chemicals are stored away from food and food service items, and are inaccessible to children.
  • Menus are posted for the current week.

If you have questions, contact the Food Protection Bureau at 385-468-3845.

Utah Child Care Licensing

Food Service Inspection Application

Food Protection Bureau

(385) 468-3845

Commercial child care facilities that prepare and serve food of any kind must maintain a Salt Lake County Health Department permanent-facility food service permit.

Maintaining that permit includes regular, unscheduled inspections of the kitchen, and these establishments must meet the same requirements as other permanent food service facilities.

In addition to maintaining a SLCoHD food service permit for their kitchens, child care facilities in Utah must be licensed by the Utah Department of Health and Human Services.

Permanent-Facility Food Permit

Food Service Permit Application

Utah Child Care Licensing

The Salt Lake County Health Department participates in TOP Star, a free statewide program dedicated to teaching obesity prevention in early child care settings.

The program helps childcare facilities (both residential and commercial) improve their nutrition, physical activity, and breastfeeding practices.

Upon completion of the program, participating facilities earn continuing education credits and fun incentives for participating in the TOP Star program. To learn more about TOP Star, visit our Healthy Living program.

A child with her arms out.

TOP Star Program

Improving health in Early Childhood Education Centers