Health Code Cheat Sheet · St. Louis County

St. Louis County Restaurant Equipment Requirements

These are the St. Louis County restaurant requirements for Clayton, Chesterfield, Florissant and every other county town. How St. Louis County plan review works, what equipment reviewers look for, staff rules, and which other offices (your city, MSD, fire district) you have to clear.

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Start with the federal Food Code equipment checklist and the Missouri Food Code guide. Both apply here. This page covers who you deal with locally and what’s different.

Plan review comes first

St. Louis County requires a Food Establishment Plan Review application before you build, remodel or convert a space. Plan reviewers usually want:

• A scaled floor plan showing every piece of equipment, sink and floor drain
• An equipment list with make, model and spec sheets. Show NSF/ANSI or ETL Sanitation certification
• Hand sink locations in every prep, service and dish area and at each restroom
• Your dish setup: a three-compartment sink with drainboards, or a dish machine
• A mop sink or curbed cleaning area
• Plumbing details: indirect drains or air gaps on ice machines, prep sinks and similar equipment, plus backflow prevention
• Floor, wall and ceiling finishes for the kitchen, storage and restrooms
• Your menu, so they can confirm you have enough cold holding, hot holding and cooling

Staff rules

• A Certified Food Protection Manager on staff
• St. Louis County has a countywide Hepatitis A vaccination requirement for food service workers. Ask the county how soon new hires must be vaccinated

Other offices you’ll deal with

• Your city hall (Clayton, Kirkwood, Florissant and so on) or the county, if unincorporated, for building permits, occupancy and business licenses
• MSD for grease interceptor requirements
• Your fire protection district for hood and fire suppression (NFPA 96 / UL 300). The county has many districts, so confirm which one covers your address

Sources

• St. Louis County: Food Establishment Plan Review
• St. Louis County Food Code
• Chapter 807: The Food Code (Municode)
• MSD: Grease interceptors

Questions about St. Louis County restaurant requirements?

Call the health department listed above before you buy equipment. Getting your list approved first costs nothing and can save you from buying something that won’t pass.

Last reviewed September 2026. This guide is general information to help you plan and ask better questions. It is not legal advice. Codes change and inspectors have final say, so confirm with your health department, building department, fire marshal, and sewer district before you buy or install equipment.