What happens to a restaurant's health inspection history when it's sold to a new owner?

A restaurant's public health inspection history is tied to the premises and the operator on record, and a change of ownership doesn't erase it from public view. Ontario public health units publish inspection results, and a new owner will generally still find the location's past disclosure record associated with the address, even after they've taken over, which can affect customer perception even if the new owner has cleaned house completely.

What does typically reset, or at least require a fresh look, is the operator's own compliance record going forward: a new owner is usually expected to notify the local public health unit of the change in operator, and an inspector may conduct a new inspection to confirm the kitchen, equipment, and practices meet current standards under new management, particularly if there's a change in menu, layout, or operations.

Buyers should review recent inspection reports as part of due diligence, not just to gauge risk of inheriting problems but because unresolved orders or conditions from a previous inspection may need to be addressed before, or shortly after, the new owner takes over. Confirming the notification and inspection process with the local public health unit directly avoids surprises after closing.