Mecklenburg County, not the town, inspects Huntersville restaurants. A is 90 or higher; below 70 the permit is revoked. Look up scores or call 980-314-1620.
Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Facts on this page come from Mecklenburg County Food and Facilities Sanitation and the state’s food establishment rules, 15A NCAC 18A .2600.
The Town of Huntersville does not inspect restaurants. Mecklenburg County Public Health’s Food and Facilities Sanitation Program does, for Huntersville and every other town in the county. It permits more than 4,400 food service businesses and carries out more than 13,000 inspections a year, the county says. Questions and complaints: 980-314-1620.
Who to call
- Food and Facilities Sanitation: 980-314-1620, 3205 Freedom Drive, Suite 8000, Charlotte
- Complaint about a restaurant, food truck or public pool: the same number
- Look up a score: the grade card at the business, or the state’s public inspection search for Mecklenburg County
How the grades work
North Carolina scores every food establishment as a percentage and turns the score into a letter, under state rule 15A NCAC 18A .2662:
| Score | Grade |
|---|---|
| 90 or higher | A |
| 80 to less than 90 | B |
| 70 to less than 80 | C |
| Less than 70 | Permit revoked immediately |
The grade card shows the letter and the number score. The business must post it where customers can see it, and inspectors replace it after every inspection. On a food truck or pushcart, it must be visible where customers order.
Reinspections
A restaurant that wants to raise its grade can ask for a reinspection. The county must then make an unannounced visit within 15 calendar days, under state rule .2661. A business closed for breaking the rules gets a reinspection before it can reopen.
What the county inspects
Besides restaurants, the program covers food stands, pushcarts and mobile food units, school lunchrooms, meat markets, hotels and motels, bed and breakfasts, public swimming pools, nursing homes, hospitals, child care homes and group homes. It also reviews plans for new food businesses. If you are opening a restaurant in Huntersville, the county’s plan review requirements come before the permit, and the town’s zoning use permit covers a commercial change of use or a mobile food sales spot.
Finding a Huntersville restaurant’s score
Inspection reports for every Mecklenburg County restaurant, including those in Huntersville, are published through North Carolina’s public environmental health portal; search by name or by city. The portal was not responding when we checked on Oct. 11. If it is down, the grade card on the wall is the official current score, and the county office can answer questions.
How to read a score
- One inspection is a snapshot. It records conditions on the day of the visit.
- A letter grade covers a range. A 90 and a 99 are both an A; the number tells you more.
- A reinspection can change the grade quickly. A restaurant can ask for one at any time.
- Scores carry legal weight. We report them as the county records them and do not rank restaurants by score.
What this means for you
- Look for the grade card near the entrance; the number matters as much as the letter.
- See something unsafe in a Huntersville restaurant? Call the county at 980-314-1620.
- Opening a food business? Start with county plan review and town zoning.
More: new businesses in Huntersville and building permits and zoning.
Frequently asked questions
Who inspects restaurants in Huntersville?
Mecklenburg County Public Health’s Food and Facilities Sanitation Program inspects restaurants in Huntersville and the rest of the county under North Carolina law. Call 980-314-1620.
What do restaurant grades mean in North Carolina?
A score of 90 or higher earns an A, 80 to 89.5 a B and 70 to 79.5 a C. A restaurant scoring below 70 has its permit revoked immediately.
How do I look up a Huntersville restaurant’s inspection score?
Check the grade card posted at the restaurant, or search the state’s public environmental health portal for Mecklenburg County by name or city. The county office answers questions at 980-314-1620.
How do I report a dirty restaurant in Huntersville?
Call Mecklenburg County Food and Facilities Sanitation at 980-314-1620. The program investigates complaints about unsanitary conditions and poor food handling.
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