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Facilities Sanitation & Inspections
Supporting Community Health Through Facility Inspections
Protecting residents and visitors through routine inspections of food service, lodging, public swimming pools, tattoo studios, and other regulated facilities. These inspections promote transparency for the community, help ensure state sanitation standards are met, reduce health risks such as foodborne illness, and support clean, well-maintained operations.
For Questions or to Report a Concern About a Facility,
Please contact Environmental Health
Call 252-902-3200 or Email: pitt.envhealth@pittcountync.gov
How to View Inspection Grades and Reports
Access the Public Health Inspection Database Now
When you open the inspection database, you will see a search page with multiple fields.
Find a Specific Location :
- Locate the "Establishment Name" search box near the top of the page.
- Type the full name or just the first few letters of the business.
Example: Enter "XYZ BBQ" or simply "XYZ" to view all results that begin with those letters. - Click the "Search" button.
- Scroll through the results to find the correct establishment. Click on the name to view detailed inspection reports, including dates, violations, and grades.
Tip: If you are unsure of the exact name, try using part of the name or a keyword (for example, "Pizza") to see a broader list of matching establishments.
Overview of Inspections & Monitoring to Reduce Health Risk
Helping reduce health risks by inspecting and monitoring a variety of regulated facilities, including food and lodging establishments, public swimming pools, and tattoo establishments, These inspections support safe operations and promote healthy environments across the community.
Learn More about Food Protection and Facilities Rules Now
Inspection Frequency
For food and lodging establishments, inspection frequency is based on menu complexity, food preparation practices, and the level of risk associated with operations. Establishments are assigned one of four categories, which determine how often inspections occur each year.
- Category 4: Inspected three times per year, plus one required educational visit.
- Category 3: Inspected three times per year.
- Category 2: Inspected two times per year.
- Category 1: Inspected once per year.
Public swimming pools, tattoo establishments, and other regulated facilities are also inspected on a routine basis. Inspection schedules for these facilities are set by state rules and program standards.
Inspection Process
- Inspections are conducted without advance notice to observe normal operations.
- Environmental Health Specialists evaluate compliance with sanitation and safety requirements, including food handling, storage, cleanliness, water quality, and infection control practices, depending on the facility type.
- After each inspection, the establishment receives a score and letter grade when applicable. Food and lodging grades must be posted in a location visible to the public.
- If a critical violation cannot be corrected during the inspection, a follow-up visit is required within 72 hours or up to 10 days, depending on the issue, to confirm the correction.
Risk Factor Items
Risk factor items are conditions that increase the likelihood of foodborne illness. During food establishment inspections, specialists focus on five key risk factors identified through public health guidance.
- Cross-contamination and contamination of food-contact surfaces
- Food from unapproved sources
- Improper hot or cold holding, cooling, or reheating of time/temperature control for safety (TCS) foods
- Inadequate cooking
- Poor personal hygiene of food handlers
Grade & Score
Sanitation grades and scores are assigned according to state rules and regulations. At the end of each inspection, the Environmental Health Specialist reviews the results with the manager on duty. For food and lodging establishments, letter grades of A, B, or C are calculated on a 100-point scale. A score below 70 results in automatic permit revocation.
Permitted Facility Types & Inspection Requirements
Inspection requirements are set by state law or rule. Inspection timing may be based on calendar year, fiscal year, operating season, or assigned risk level. Permitted food establishments may require separate inspections and approvals that are not conducted on the same day.
Applications for permits, temporary food establishments, and ServSafe class or exam registration can be submitted through the online portal.
Open the Pitt County Permitting Portal Now
- Adult Day Services: Programs providing daytime care, meals, and activities for adults
Inspections Required: 1 per fiscal year - Bed and Breakfast Homes: Owner-occupied homes offering overnight lodging and meals
Inspections Required: 1 per fiscal year - Bed and Breakfast Inns: Larger lodging facilities offering overnight stays and meals
Inspections Required: 2 per year (1 every 6 months) - Child Day Care Facilities: Facilities providing care and meals for children
Inspections Required: 2 per year (1 every 6 months) - Commissaries for Push Carts and Mobile Food Units: Approved kitchens that support mobile food units and push carts
Inspections Required: 1–4 per year (based on risk) - Educational Food Service: Food service operations in educational settings
Inspections Required: 1–4 per year (based on risk) - Elderly Nutrition Sites (Catered): Meal sites for older adults where food is prepared off-site
Inspections Required: 4 per year (1 per quarter) - Elderly Nutrition Sites (Food Prepared on Site): Meal sites for older adults where food is prepared on location
Inspections Required: 4 per year (1 per quarter) - Food Stands: Small food establishments with eight seats or fewer
Inspections Required: 1–4 per year (based on risk) - Hospitals: Medical facilities providing patient care and food services
Inspections Required: 2 per year (1 every 6 months) - Institutional Food Service: Food service operations in institutions such as care or correctional facilities
Inspections Required: 4 per year (1 per quarter) - Limited Food Service: Hotel breakfast areas and similar limited-service operations
Inspections Required: 1–4 per year (based on risk) - Local Confinement Facilities: Jails and detention centers
Inspections Required: 1 per fiscal year - Lodging Facilities: Hotels, motels, inns, and bed-and-breakfasts
Inspections Required: 1 per fiscal year - Meat Markets: Areas where meat is prepared and sold in grocery stores
Inspections Required: 1–4 per year (based on risk) - Mobile Food Units: Food trucks, trailers, buses, or vans that prepare and serve food
Inspections Required: 1–4 per year (based on risk) - Orphanages, Children’s Homes, or Similar Institutions: Residential care facilities for children
Inspections Required: 2 per year (1 every 6 months) - Primitive Camps (Seasonal Operating Permit): Camps operating for part of the year
Inspections Required: 1 inspection during the operating season - Primitive Camps (Year-Round Operating Permit): Camps operating year-round with limited facilities
Inspections Required: 1 inspection for each 6-month operating period - Private Boarding Schools and Colleges: Residential educational facilities
Inspections Required: 1 per fiscal year - Private School Lunchrooms: Food service programs located in private schools
Inspections Required: 1–4 per year (based on risk) - Public School Lunchrooms: Food service programs located in public schools
Inspections Required: 4 per year (1 per quarter) - Push Carts: Mobile carts that serve hot dogs or similar foods
Inspections Required: 1–4 per year (based on risk) - Residential Care Homes (Excluding Foster Homes): Small homes providing room, meals, and personal care
Inspections Required: 1 per fiscal year - Resident Camps: Camps where participants stay overnight for multiple days
Inspections Required: 2 per year (1 every 6 months) - Restaurants (Including Drink Stands): Food establishments with more than eight seats
Inspections Required: 1–4 per year (based on risk) - Rest Homes and Nursing Homes: Residential facilities providing long-term care and meals
Inspections Required: 2 per year (1 every 6 months) - School Buildings (Public and Private): School facilities inspected for health and sanitation conditions
Inspections Required: 1 per fiscal year - Seasonal Specialized Water Recreation Attractions: Special water features open during part of the year
Inspections Required: 1 per calendar year - Seasonal Spas: Hot tubs or spas open during part of the year
Inspections Required: 1 per calendar year - Seasonal Swimming Pools: Public pools open during part of the year
Inspections Required: 1 per calendar year - Seasonal Wading Pools: Shallow pools designed for children
Inspections Required: 1 per calendar year - Summer Camps: Seasonal camps that provide lodging and meals to youth
Inspections Required: 1 per fiscal year - Tattoo Studios: Facilities where tattooing services are provided
Inspections Required: 1 per fiscal year - Temporary Display Spas: Short-term spa displays at events or retail locations
Inspections Required: As required during operation - Temporary Food Establishments: Food vendors at festivals, fairs, and community events
Inspections Required: As required during operation - Year-Round Specialized Water Recreation Attractions: Special water features open year-round
Inspections Required: 2 per calendar year - Year-Round Spas: Spas or hot tubs open year-round
Inspections Required: 2 per calendar year - Year-Round Swimming Pools: Pools open to the public throughout the year
Inspections Required: 2 per calendar year - Year-Round Wading Pools: Shallow pools open year-round
Inspections Required: 2 per calendar year
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Environmental Health
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