How Buncombe County restaurant grades work: 90 or above is an A, 80 to 89.5 a B, 70 to 79.5 a C. Look up any score on the county's Environmental Health portal.
Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Facts on this page come from Buncombe County Environmental Health and the North Carolina food establishment rules, 15A NCAC 18A .2660 to .2662. Buncombe County Public Health: 828-250-5000.
Every restaurant, food truck and other food business in Asheville is inspected by Buncombe County Environmental Health, part of the county’s public health department, not by the city. Inspectors score each place out of 100 under state rules, and the business must post the grade card where customers can see it.
Who to call
- Buncombe County Environmental Health: 35 Woodfin St., Asheville, NC 28801 (moved there April 8, 2025), buncombecounty.org/eh
- Buncombe County Public Health main line: 828-250-5000, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays
- Look up a score: Environmental Health public portal
How to look up a score
- Go to the county’s Accela Citizen Access portal. You do not need an account to view inspections.
- Choose Environmental Health.
- Search by the business name.
- Open the record and check its attachments for the inspection reports.
The county publishes step-by-step instructions in a short guide, How to Find Inspection Scores.
What the grades mean
Under the state’s grading rule:
| Score | Grade |
|---|---|
| 90% or more | A |
| 80% to less than 90% | B |
| 70% to less than 80% | C |
| Less than 70% | Permit revoked immediately |
The grade card is black on white, with the letter and number 1.5 inches tall. The health department may also hand out sanitation awards, which must be a different color and size and be labeled as an award.
How points come off
Inspectors use a state inspection form that lists each rule, the score and an explanation for every point deducted, according to the inspection rule. A few examples of the most a single item can cost:
| Item | Up to |
|---|---|
| Hands clean and properly washed | 4 points |
| No bare-hand contact with ready-to-eat food | 4 points |
| Cooking, cooling, hot holding and cold holding temperatures | 3 points each |
| Food-contact surfaces cleaned and sanitized | 3 points |
| Handwashing sinks supplied and reachable | 2 points |
| Food from an approved source | 2 points |
Points come off only once for a single problem. For the most serious (“priority”) items, an inspector takes no more than half the points if the problem was not on the last inspection and is fixed on the spot, and that fix is written on the form.
Reading the scores fairly
- A score is a snapshot of one visit on one day. A problem fixed during the inspection still appears on the report.
- A B or C is not a closure. Only a score under 70% ends a permit.
- A business can ask for a reinspection to raise its grade. The inspector must then make an unannounced visit within 15 calendar days of the request, the rule says.
- Grade cards must be posted in a conspicuous spot near the entrance, and on a food truck where customers order, under state rules.
Report a concern
If you think you got sick from food or saw unsafe conditions, call Buncombe County Public Health at 828-250-5000 or contact Environmental Health through its page. For an emergency, call 911.
What this means for you
- Look for the grade card by the door, or check the county portal before you go.
- A recent report tells you more than the letter: read what was marked and whether it was fixed.
- Opening a restaurant? Call Environmental Health early, and see building permits and zoning.
More: new businesses in Asheville.
Frequently asked questions
How do I look up a restaurant inspection score in Asheville?
Use Buncombe County’s Environmental Health public portal on its Accela Citizen Access site. Choose Environmental Health, search by the business name and open the record to see its inspection reports. No account is needed.
What is a passing restaurant score in North Carolina?
A score of 90% or more earns a grade A, 80% to under 90% a B, and 70% to under 80% a C. A restaurant scoring below 70% has its permit revoked immediately under state rules.
Where do restaurants have to post their grade?
State rules require the grade card to be posted where customers can easily see it on entering. On a food truck or pushcart it must be visible where people buy food.
Can a restaurant get a new inspection to raise its grade?
Yes. A restaurant with a valid permit can ask for a reinspection to raise its grade, and the inspector must make an unannounced visit within 15 calendar days of the request.
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