Fayette County Quick Facts
RequiredIs a Food Handler Card Required in Lexington (Fayette County)?
Yes — and Fayette County's requirement is one of the strictest in Kentucky. The Lexington Board of Health passed the food handler certification requirement in 1987, making Fayette County one of the first jurisdictions in the state to mandate it. Every person who directly handles unpackaged food products served to the general public in Lexington must hold a current, valid food handler card from the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department.
This requirement covers a wide range of food service positions: servers, bartenders, bussers (who handle food), cooks, prep cooks, dishwashers, food truck operators, cafeteria workers, and anyone else who touches unpackaged food destined for customer consumption.
How to Get a Food Handler Card in Fayette County
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Go to the LFCHD Environmental Health Office The testing location is the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department's Environmental Health office at 650 Newtown Pike, Lexington, KY 40511. Testing is walk-in. No appointment is needed.
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Watch the training video The in-person process begins with a 15-minute food safety training video covering safe food handling practices, temperature control, cross-contamination prevention, and personal hygiene.
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Take the written test After the video, you take a short written test. The test covers the material from the training video. No advance studying is required, though reviewing basic food safety concepts beforehand helps.
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Pay the $23 fee The cost for the Fayette County food handler card is $23. Confirm current accepted payment methods with the LFCHD (cash and check have historically been accepted; verify whether card payment is available).
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Receive your card Upon passing, you receive your Certified Food Service Employee card. It is valid for 3 years. Certified food managers (those who hold a CFPM credential) are not required to also hold a food handler card.
Testing Hours and Location
The LFCHD Environmental Health Office is open for food handler testing Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Walk-ins are accepted — no appointment is needed for the food handler card. The address is:
LFCHD Environmental Health
650 Newtown Pike
Lexington, KY 40511
Phone: (859) 252-2371
Who Is Exempt from the Fayette County Food Handler Card Requirement?
The following workers in Lexington are not required to hold a food handler card:
- Certified Food Protection Managers (CFPMs): If you hold a current food manager certification (such as ServSafe), the food handler card is not additionally required — the manager credential covers this requirement.
- Workers who only handle pre-packaged food: Employees who never touch unpackaged food directly are generally not required to hold a handler card. However, this applies narrowly — contact the LFCHD if you're unsure whether your role qualifies.
Renewing Your Fayette County Food Handler Card
Fayette County food handler cards are valid for 3 years from the date of issue. To renew, you must return to the LFCHD Environmental Health office and go through the same process — training video, written test, and $23 fee. There is no online renewal option.
You should plan to renew before your card expires. Working with an expired card can result in a violation citation during a routine inspection. The employer is also responsible for ensuring all food-handling employees maintain current cards on file — establishments are checked during inspections.
What Happens If You Work Without a Required Card in Fayette County?
Food safety inspectors from the LFCHD check for valid food handler cards during routine inspections of food establishments. If workers are found without cards, the inspector will issue a required correction, and the establishment may receive a lower inspection score. Repeated violations can affect the establishment's permit status. Workers hired without a card are typically given a grace period (often 10 days from hire) to come into compliance before a violation is issued against the employer.