NYC food service inspection and grading system
The health department grades food service establishments with 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.
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 its first contact with this system. Letter grades come from the inspections that follow once the business is operating.
