Licensing Definitions
Food, Pools, and Lodging Services (FPLS)
 

Base Fee
An annual fee paid by each establishment except special event food stands.

Category 1 establishment
An establishment which provides one or more of the following:

Pre-packaged food that is served in the package; continental breakfast such as rolls, coffee, juice, milk and cold cereal; serves beverages; cleans eating, drinking or cooking utensils or is a child care facility licensed under Minnesota Statutes, 245A.03; a food establishment where the method of food preparation is low-risk as defined by Minnesota Statutes, part 157.20 subd. 2(c).

Category 2 establishment
An establishment which is not a category 1 establishment and is either a food establishment where the method of food preparation is medium risk as defined by Minnesota Statutes, part 157.20 subd. 2 (b); an elementary school or secondary school as defined in Minnesota Statutes, part 120A.05.

Category 3 establishment
An establishment which is not a category 1 or 2 establishment and is either a food establishment where the method of food preparation is high risk as defined by Minnesota Statutes, part 157.20 subd. 2 (a); an establishment where 500 or more meals are prepared each day and served at one or more locations.

Additional food service
A location at a food establishment, other than the primary food preparation and service area, used to prepare or serve beverages from a bar or food to the public.

HACCP verification
An annual fee category for a business that performs one or more specialized process that requires an HACCP plan as required in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 31 and Minnesota Rules, chapter 4626.

Special event food stand (SEFS)
A special event food stand is a food and beverage service establishment which is used in conjunction with celebrations and special events, and which operates no more than ten total days in the current calendar year. The dates for your event must be listed before the Department can issue a license.

Mobile food unit (MFU)
A food and beverage service establishment that is a vehicle mounted unit, either motorized or trailered, and readily movable, without disassembling, for transport to another location. The unit can operate no more than 21 days annually at any one place unless it is operated at the site of and in conjunction with a permanent business licensed under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 157 or chapter 28A.

Seasonal temporary food stand (STF)
A food and beverage service establishment that is a food stand which is disassembled and moved from location to location, but which operates no more than 21 days annually at any one location.

Seasonal permanent food stand (SPF)
A food and beverage service establishment which is a permanent food service stand or building, but which operates no more than 21 days annually.

Food cart (FC)
A food and beverage service establishment that is a non-motorized vehicle self-propelled by the operator.

Public swimming pool
Any swimming pool other than a private residential swimming pool.

Spa pool
A public hot water pool intended for seated recreational use.

Lodging per unit
The number of guest rooms, cottages, or other rental units of a hotel, motel, lodging establishment, or resort, or the number of beds in a dormitory.

Recreational camping area (RCA)
Any area, whether privately or publicly owned, used on a daily, nightly, weekly, or longer basis for the accommodation of five or more tents or recreational camping vehicles free of charge or for compensation. "Recreational camping area" excludes: (1) children's camps; (2) industrial camps; (3) migrant labor camps, as defined in Minnesota Statutes and state commissioner of health rules; (4) United States Forest Service camps; (5) state forest service camps; (6) state wildlife management areas or state-owned public access areas which are restricted in use to picnicking and boat landing; and (7) temporary holding areas for self-contained recreational camping vehicles created by and adjacent to motor sports facilities, if the chief law enforcement officer of an affected jurisdiction determines that it is in the interest of public safety to provide a temporary holding area.

Special event camping area (SECA)
A recreational camping area which operates no more than two times annually and for no more than 14 consecutive days.

Youth camp
A parcel or parcels of land with permanent buildings, tents or other structures together with appurtenances thereon, established or maintained as living quarters where both food and beverage service and lodging or the facilities therefor are provided for ten or more people, operated continuously for a period of five days or more each year for educational, recreational or vacation purposes, and the use of the camp is offered to minors free of charge or for payment of a fee. 
This definition does not include cabin and trailer camps, fishing and hunting camps, resorts, penal and correctional camps, industrial and construction camps, nor does it include homes operated for care or treatment of children and for the operation of which a license is required under the provisions of Minnesota Statutes, chapter 257.

Individual water
A private water supply other than a community public water supply.

Individual sewer
A private sewage treatment system, which uses subsurface treatment and disposal.

Additional inspection fee
An additional fee for school food services required to have two inspections per year under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act.

Statewide hospitality fee
A fee which helps ensure a safe and secure hospitality industry by funding training for state and local inspection staff, technical assistance, and maintenance of a statewide food safety notification system.

Late penalty
Additional charge added to the license fee when a person operates a business without first having made application and fee payment for the current year’s license.