Retail Food

Retail Food Permits and Applications

• Fees: Retail Food
• Health Permit Application: Catering Business
• Certified Farmers' Market Temporary Food Facility Permit Application
• Health Permit Application: Food Facility and Public Pool
• Health Permit Application: Mobile Food Facility
• Health Permit Application or Registration: Cottage Food
• Health Permit Application: Temporary Food Event
• Permit Exemption Application (25 sq-ft or less of non-PHF)
• Permit Fee Exemption & Self-Attestation Form

Catering Kitchens

A catering/production kitchen is a retail food facility where one or more operators rent space and time to prepare food. The operator of the production kitchen obtains a production kitchen health permit. Each operator renting the use of the facility obtains their own catering permit.

Related Resources:

• Catering Checklist
• Catering Packet
• Catering SOP
• List of Production Kitchens
• Permit Fee Exemption & Self-Attestation Form
• Production Kitchen Agreement

Charitable Food Facilities

Food that is given away to people in need is subject to regulations to make sure the food is handled in a safe and sanitary way. Charitable food facilities include soup kitchens, food banks and other feeding programs for individuals who are homeless or in need.

Related Resources:

• Charitable Food Facility FAQs
• Health Permit Application: Food Facility and Public Pool

Certified Farmers' Markets

Certified Farmers' Markets (CFMs) are venues where farmers can set up a booth or stall to sell directly to consumers. These vendors operate under a CFM health permit.

Related Resources:

• Certified Farmers' Market Temporary Food Facility Permit Application
• CFM FAQs
• CFM Information (CDFA)
• CFM Information – County Ag Department
• Guidelines for Certified Farmers' Market
• Permit Fee Exemption & Self-Attestation Form

Cottage Food Operations

A cottage food operation (CFO) is a home-based operation that allows limited amounts of certain foods to be prepared in a home kitchen for retail sale.

Related Resources:

• Approved Cottage Food List
• CFO Application Packet
• CFO Application Renewal Packet Fillable 2024/2025
• CFO FAQs
• Cottage Food Information – CDPH
• Cottage Food Operator Training (CDPH)
• Cottage Food Packet

Mobile Food

A mobile food facility is a drivable, towable, or otherwise portable vehicle that sells food items. These include food trucks, food trailers, produce trucks, ice cream trucks, push carts, hot dog carts and other carts.

Related Resources:

• Construction Checklist: Mobile Food Facility
• Mobile Food Facility Application Packet
• Mobile Food Facility Application Packet - Spanish
• Mobile Food Facility Checklist
• Mobile Food Facility FAQs
• Plan Review Construction/Remodel Application: Mobile Food Facility
• Sidewalk Food Vending (CMFO) Workshop
• Sidewalk Food Vending (CMFO) Workshop- Spanish version
• Sidewalk Food Vending (CMFO) Information Brochure
• Sidewalk Food Vending (CMFO) Information Brochure - Spanish version

 Schedule a Consultation

Register for a Sidewalk Vendor Workshop

Temporary Food Permits

A temporary food health permit is issued to community-based events such as fairs and festivals. 

Related Resources:

• Application for Temporary Food Event Health Permit
• Learn How to Host Your Food Event Safely
• Permit Fee Exemption & Self-Attestation Form
• Temporary Food Facilities (Brochure)
• Temporary Food Permit FAQs