Mecklenburg County inspects more than 4,400 food businesses, over 13,000 inspections a year. A is 90 or higher; under 70 loses its permit. Call 980-314-1620.
Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Facts on this page come from Mecklenburg County Food and Facilities Sanitation and the state’s food establishment rules, 15A NCAC 18A .2600.
Restaurant inspections in Charlotte are done by Mecklenburg County Public Health, not the city. Its Food and Facilities Sanitation Program permits more than 4,400 food service businesses in the county and carries out more than 13,000 inspections a year, the county says.
Who to call
- Food and Facilities Sanitation: 980-314-1620, 3205 Freedom Drive, Suite 8000, Charlotte
- Complaints about a restaurant, food truck or pool: the same number; the program investigates unsanitary conditions and poor food handling
- Look up a score: the grade card posted at the business, or the state’s public inspection search for Mecklenburg County (linked below)
How the grades work
North Carolina scores every food establishment as a percentage and turns the score into a letter, under state rule 15A NCAC 18A .2662:
| Score | Grade |
|---|---|
| 90 or higher | A |
| 80 to less than 90 | B |
| 70 to less than 80 | C |
| Less than 70 | Permit revoked immediately |
The grade card is black on white, with the letter and the number score 1.5 inches tall. The business must post it where customers can see it, and inspectors replace it after every inspection. On a food truck or pushcart, it must be visible where customers buy. The only other sanitation display allowed is a health department award, which must look different and be labeled as an award.
Reinspections
A restaurant that wants to raise its grade can ask for a reinspection. The county must then make an unannounced visit within 15 calendar days, under state rule .2661. A business closed for failing the rules gets a reinspection scheduled by the county before it can reopen.
What the county inspects
Besides restaurants and drink stands, the program covers food stands, pushcarts and mobile food units, school lunchrooms, meat markets, hotels and motels, bed and breakfasts, public swimming pools, nursing homes, hospitals, child care homes, group homes and the jail. It also reviews plans for new food businesses and investigates child lead poisoning cases.
Pushcarts are limited by state rule to hot dogs and similar precooked encased meats, with condiments, prepackaged drinks and snacks.
Finding a score
Inspection reports for Mecklenburg County are published through North Carolina’s public environmental health portal, public.cdpehs.com. The portal was not responding when we checked on Oct. 11; if it is down, the grade card on the wall is the official current score, and the county office can answer questions at 980-314-1620.
How to read a score
- One inspection is a snapshot. It records conditions on the day of the visit.
- A letter grade covers a range. A 90 and a 99 are both an A; the number tells you more.
- A reinspection can change the grade quickly. A restaurant can ask for one at any time, and the new card goes up after the visit.
- Scores carry legal weight. We report them as the county records them and do not rank restaurants by score.
What this means for you
- Look for the grade card near the entrance; the number matters as much as the letter.
- See something unsafe? Call 980-314-1620.
- Opening a food business? The county’s plan review requirements come first.
More: new businesses in Charlotte and who to call at City Hall.
Frequently asked questions
Who inspects restaurants in Charlotte?
Mecklenburg County Public Health’s Food and Facilities Sanitation Program inspects restaurants in Charlotte and the rest of the county under North Carolina law. Call 980-314-1620.
What do restaurant grades mean in North Carolina?
A score of 90 or higher earns an A, 80 to 89.5 a B and 70 to 79.5 a C. A restaurant scoring below 70 has its permit revoked immediately.
Can a restaurant ask to be reinspected in North Carolina?
Yes. A restaurant that wants to raise its grade can ask for a reinspection, and the county must make an unannounced visit within 15 calendar days.
How do I report a dirty restaurant in Charlotte?
Contact Mecklenburg County Food and Facilities Sanitation at 980-314-1620. The program investigates complaints about unsanitary conditions and poor food handling.
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