NYC food service inspection and grading system
The health department grades roughly 30,000 food service establishments using letter grades. Grade A (0-13 points) indicates strong compliance, Grade B (14-27 points) needs improvement, and Grade C (28+ points) reflects serious violations. Nearly 60% of inspected New York City establishments currently hold an A.
Grades are posted publicly, giving diners a clear signal about a restaurant's latest inspection.
Operators face financial pressure to maintain an A grade, since a B or C can deter customers and prompt more frequent inspections.
The Green Lic's pre-permit inspection is the first point in this system. The outcome determines whether it gets a permit and, later, what letter grade it initially receives.
