Food Protection Philosophy

The Fishers Health Department is one of the few in Indiana enrolled in the FDA’s Retail Program Standards program, which ensures inspections focus on areas with the highest impact on foodborne illness prevention. This shifts the focus by making the department a public health program with a regulatory component rather than a regulatory program with a public health component.

The Fishers Health Department’s Retail Food Inspection Grading System for Fishers restaurants helps inform residents and consumers. Restaurants receive a letter grade based on the results of annual food inspections, and grades are available on the interactive dashboard. Letter grades are also displayed on restaurant doors.

Permitting

All food vendors in the City of Fishers must obtain and display an active permit issued by the Fishers Health Department. Questions? Contact the Fishers Health Department by email or at 317-567-5045.

Permanent Food Establishment Application

A Permanent Retail Food Establishment is an operation that stores, prepares, packages, serves, vends, or otherwise provides food for human consumption. The term includes all operations where consumption is on or off the premises, and regardless of whether there is a charge for the food. These are a few examples: a restaurant, a catering operation, a grocery store, a tavern, or a food bank.

Temporary Food Permitting

A Temporary Retail Food Establishment Permit is required for a food establishment that operates at a fixed location for a temporary period. Permits are available in a variety of time increments for convenience and reduction of cost to the vendor. Temporary events may include city celebrations, fairs, and festivals.

Food Truck

A Food Truck Permit is required for any mobile concessions operation within City limits. These permits are offered in a variety of time-based increments to meet the needs of our vendors.

Farmers’ Markets, Not for Profit, & Home-Based Vendors

• All farmers’ market vendors, not-for-profits, and home-based vendors need to register here with the Fishers Health Department.
• Apply for a temporary permit (good for an entire season at one location), if you are a vendor sampling, preparing, or serving foods. *Certified Food Handler requirements may apply*. Temporary events may include city celebrations, fairs, farmers markets, and festivals.   
• No permit is required for a food vendor who is
• Offering only whole, uncut fresh fruits and vegetables
• Offering only prepackaged foods from an approved source that are not potentially hazardous
• A Home-Based Vendor operating under Indiana Code 16-42-5-29
• Produce farms that are covered under the FSMA Produce Safety Rule are required to register with the Indiana State Department of Health by filling out the Registration Form for Produce Farms and send it to the address at the top of the form.
• See a list of Registered Fruit and Vegetable Growers and Distributors and How and Why to Register Your Farm 

Fee Schedule

In accordance with chapter 170 of the City of Fishers Code of Ordinances:

Item	Fee
Plan review	$150
Retail food market establishment (size dependent)	$250-$800
Retail food establishment (employee dependent)	$200-$400
Farmer’s Market	$0 – $5
Micro-Market (machine dependent)	$100-$175
Temporary Food Service, Market or Food Truck	$20 -$100
Bed and Breakfast	$100
Permit replacement	$10
Processing fee	$25
Violations and penalties	Assessed on inspection

File a Complaint

All Fishers-based restaurants and food service locations must adhere to the Fishers Health Department ordinance and state health department code. Individuals who wish to file a complaint or report a potential violation may submit it via this form.

What should be reported?

Complaints about an establishment	Complaints about a food product
Cleanliness/sanitation	Foreign material in a product
Poor employee practices	Chemical taste/smell
Improperly cooked or handled food	Tampering
Food that tastes bad; foreign material in food