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
• Certified Farmers' Markets in Contra Costa County
• CFM FAQs
• CFM Information (CDFA)
• CFM Information – County Ag Department
• Guidelines for Certified Farmers' Market
• Permit Fee Exemption & Self-Attestation Form

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

Food Safety Resources

• Placard Program Explanation
• Food Facility Self-Inspection Checklist
• Food Safety Handout 
• Food Safety Reference Card (coming soon)

Foodborne Illness

• Sample Sick Policy
• Employee Health and Personal Hygiene Handbook
• Three Things Restaurant Managers Need to Know
• Prevent the Spread of Norovirus (Spanish)
• Clean-up and Disinfection for Norovirus (Spanish)

Time and Temperature Control for Safety

• Food Temperature Log and Thermometer Calibration
• Time as a Public Health Control (TPHC) Written Procedures
• Time as a Public Health Control (TPHC) Time Monitoring Chart
• Food Temperature Cooling Log
• Safe Ways to Cool Food
• Proper Cooling Methods
• Cold Food Storage Chart

Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP)

• California Department of Public Health (CDPH) HACCP Handout
• California Department of Public Health (CDPH) HACCP Toolchest for Reduced Oxygen Packaging (ROP) and Acidification 
• HACCP Principles Manual
• Components of a Comprehensive Food Safety Program
• Cleaning and Sanitizing Sample SOP
• Complex Food Process Worksheet