Saratoga Co. takes over restaurant inspection permitting

BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. (NEWS10)-- Starting in the new year, the Saratoga County Department of Health is taking over permitting and enforcement operations for restaurants and mobile food services from the state. County officials said the change is a continuation of expanding the health department to be full-time.

The county's health department is distributing new permits to replace former New York State Department of Health permits placed in restaurant windows. With the change, the county plans to launch a pilot online permitting website that businesses can access before existing permits expire.

County officials said the increasing population contributed to the county taking over environmental health services. Saratoga County Board of Supervisors Chairman Phil Barrett said the added responsibility is an important step to becoming a full-service health department.

"Not only will our Department of Health assume these responsibilities from the State at the start of the new year, but we are also modernizing and improving customer service for business owners with an electronic permitting system that will make it easier and more convenient for food service establishments to stay in compliance," Barrett said.