Health Code Cheat Sheet · St. Charles County

St. Charles County Restaurant Equipment Requirements

These are the St. Charles County restaurant requirements for O’Fallon, Wentzville and the rest of the county. St. Charles County Food Code (2016, revised 2023), plan review, Certified Food Protection Manager rules, and who handles building, grease and fire in St. Charles County.

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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 before you open

New restaurants and new owners have to go through the county’s plan review before opening. Call 636-949-1800 before you sign a lease or order equipment. Have these ready:

• A floor plan with every piece of equipment, hand sink, three-compartment sink, mop sink and floor drain
• Equipment spec sheets showing NSF/ANSI or ETL Sanitation certification
• Your menu, so reviewers can check refrigeration, hot holding and cooling capacity
• Plumbing details: water heater size, indirect drains and backflow prevention
• Finish schedule for floors, walls and ceilings

Staff rules in the county code

• At least one employee with supervisory responsibility must be a Certified Food Protection Manager who passed an accredited examCounty Food Code §2-102.12(A)
• The person in charge must complete an approved food safety program and post a current certificate. A missing certificate costs 5 points on your inspection scoreCounty Food Code §2-102.20

Other offices you’ll deal with

• Building permits: your city, or St. Charles County Community Development if you’re in an unincorporated area
• Grease interceptors: set by your city or sewer district. The City of St. Charles and O’Fallon both run fats, oils and grease (FOG) programs. See the City of St. Charles guide
• Hood and fire suppression: your local fire district

Sources

• St. Charles County: Permanent Food Establishments
• St. Charles County Food Code
• City of O’Fallon: FOG Management Program

Questions about St. Charles 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.