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Failed a health inspection in King County, Washington?

King County restaurants get Within 10 days for a Yellow or Blue placard; Red requires correcting violations before reopening to correct violations. Every open violation at re-inspection costs you points or closes the restaurant. Here is everything you need to know, and how to fix it fast.

King County at a glance

King County Environmental Health — Food Safety Program
Grading systemRed/Blue/Yellow placard system — Red = closed, Blue = conditional, Yellow = satisfactory
Re-inspection windowWithin 10 days for a Yellow or Blue placard; Red requires correcting violations before reopening
Re-inspection fee$200–$400 per re-inspection
Closure riskRed placard posted on door — business must close until violations corrected and reinspected

Violation tiers and deadlines

P
Priority (P): Red-placard violations must be corrected before reopening
Food safety hazards that directly cause illness, including foodborne disease risk, bare-hand contact, and temperature abuse.
PF
Priority Foundation (PF): 10 days for Yellow-placard violations
Procedures and practices that support food safety, including certifications, cooling logs, labeling, and training.
C
Core (C): 30 days for routine violations
Facility and equipment standards, including maintenance, cleaning schedules, and physical condition of the space.

Deadlines are typical for King County. Always verify with King County Environmental Health — Food Safety Program.

Most common violations in King County

WHAT THE INSPECTOR CHECKS
01Inadequate food temperature control — hot hold below 135°F
02Poor personal hygiene — no handwashing observed
03Food not protected from contamination
04Warewashing equipment not sanitizing properly
05Food worker card not obtained within required timeframe
06Evidence of pests

What happens at the re-inspection

The inspector returns to recheck every violation from the original report. They will verify that corrective actions were actually taken, not just that the symptom was temporarily fixed.

For Priority violations this means documented evidence: temperature logs showing proper cold-hold since the original inspection, signed employee illness agreements, corrected food handling observed on-site. A corrected temperature reading alone is not enough if the underlying practice has not changed.

Inspectors may also flag new violations they observe during the re-inspection visit. A re-inspection is not limited to the original violation list.

COMMON MISTAKE

Correcting the condition without documenting it. Bring written proof to every re-inspection, even for violations that seem obvious to verify.

Questions about re-inspections in King County

How long do I have to fix violations in King County?+

Priority violations must be corrected Red-placard violations must be corrected before reopening. Priority Foundation violations are due 10 days for Yellow-placard violations. Core violations have 30 days for routine violations. Always confirm the exact deadline with King County Environmental Health — Food Safety Program.

What happens if I fail the re-inspection?+

King County may issue additional fines, schedule a second re-inspection, or, for serious ongoing violations, suspend your operating permit. Restaurants with scores indicating an imminent health hazard risk immediate closure.

What is the re-inspection fee in King County?+

Re-inspection fees in King County are typically $200–$400 per re-inspection. Fees vary by violation count and may increase for repeat failures. Verify current fees with King County Environmental Health — Food Safety Program.

What documents should I have ready for the re-inspection?+

Bring your Corrective Action Plan showing what was fixed and when, staff training sign-off sheets, temperature logs covering the period since the original inspection, and any invoices for equipment repairs or pest control.

Do I have to close while I fix violations?+

Red placard posted on door — business must close until violations corrected and reinspected. For violations that do not trigger an immediate closure, you can typically continue operating while corrections are made, but all Priority violations must be corrected by the deadline or you risk closure at re-inspection.

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This document is for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not guarantee a passing re-inspection score. Deadlines and fees are based on publicly available jurisdiction data and may change. Always verify requirements directly with King County Environmental Health — Food Safety Program.

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