Mobile Food Facility Consultation and Construction Permitting

This service allows you to apply for a consultation or a permit to construct or modify a Compact Mobile Food Facility Operation (CMFO) or Mobile Food Facility (MFF) Preparation Unit to be operated within San Luis Obispo County.

A health permit to operate a CMFO or MFF will not be issued unless all construction and operational requirements are met.

If you have completed a construction plan check for your CMFO or MFF and/or have received direction from this Agency to proceed with health permitting, please visit the Mobile Food Facility permitting page:

Consultation and/or Construction Plan Check applications are required for all CMFOs and MFFs and are within these categories:

  • Full construction plan check required for:
    • New construction of CMFOs or MFFs.
    • Remodeled or modified CMFOs or MFFs. 
    • CMFOs or MFFs previously permitted where the health permit to operate expired 2 or more years ago.
  • A 2-hour consultation* is required for:
    • CMFOs or MFFs previously permitted in another jurisdiction within the last 2 years.
    • Ownership changes of CMFOs or MFFs operated within San Luis Obispo County within the last 2 years where a significant menu change or change in operation will occur.

*The purpose of the 2hour consultation is to determine if the CMFO or MFF can move forward with the permitting process or if additional information is required for approval. Please note that a full construction plan check may be required.

Please note a Housing and Community Development (HCD) certification is required for all occupiable MFFs, including those previously certified that have been modified or remodeled since the last certification date.

A prospective new owner is encouraged to contact our Agency with questions prior to purchasing or constructing any Mobile Food Facility. Additional consultation or construction plan check requirements will be determined during that time.

Please note, it is unlawful to build a CMFO or MFF without prior written approval from this office.

What is the process?

Determine Type of Mobile Operation

COMPACT MOBILE FOOD OPERATION (CMFO)

Prepackaged Compact Mobile Food Operation (CMFO) means an unenclosed mobile food facility that operates from an individual or from a pushcart, stand, display, pedal-driven cart, wagon, showcase, rack, or other nonmotorized conveyance, serving only prepackaged, non-potentially hazardous foods.

Unpackaged Compact Mobile Food Operation (CMFO) is a non-motorized Mobile Food Facility that is restricted to Limited Food Preparation as defined in the California Retail Food Code section 113818. Examples of menu items that easily fit within Limited Food Preparation include, but are not limited to: hot dogs, shaved ice, roasted nuts, sliced fruit, boiled corn, popcorn, or churros.

If either of the above applies to your planned operation, then your operation may qualify as a CMFO.

View Frequently Asked Questions regarding Compact Mobile Food Operation permitting requirements

 

MOBILE FOOD FACILITY PREPARATION UNIT (MFF) - Enclosed and Unenclosed Units

Applies to all other types of food preparation activities involving menu items and/or preparation processes that do not qualify as a CMFO.

Review Construction and Operational Requirements

Read and comply with the applicable reference document to your planned operation.

CMFO: 

MFF Preparation Units:

Submit Required Items

Submit the following:

All Applicants:

CMFO - Prepackaged Non-PHF Applicants:

Click here for the full application packet for CMFO Prepackaged Non-PHF

CMFO - Unpackaged Food/PHF Applicants:

Click here for the full application packet for CMFO Unpackaged Food/PHF

MFF Preparation Unit (Enclosed and Unenclosed) Applicants

Pay Plan Check Fee

The fee is due with the application. Please refer to the Environmental Health Permit Fee Schedule for more information.

Await response from Agency

Plans must be approved prior to beginning construction. The inspector reviewing the plan will contact you with any additional information or forms that may be required, revisions needed, or when your plan is approved.

Receive Certification from HCD (enclosed units only)

When construction is complete but before you contact Environmental Health Services for inspection, enclosed Mobile Food Facility Preparation Units must first be approved by Housing and Community Development before they can be permitted to operate.

If your Mobile Food Facility is unenclosed, skip to step 6.

Schedule Inspection

Contact us if you have any questions or to schedule an inspection of your Mobile Food Facility prior to opening for business. 

This Agency will grant approval to begin operation upon completing a final construction/opening inspection. It is unlawful to begin operation of a new Permanent Food Facility without first receiving approval from this Agency in addition to a valid Health Permit to Operate.

Await Approval From Agency

It is unlawful to begin operation of a new or remodeled Mobile Food Facility without first receiving approval from this Agency.

Upon completion of an initial inspection, the inspector will affix a health permit sticker to the vehicle indicating approval to begin use of the vehicle. A paper Health Permit to Operate will be mailed within 2-4 weeks after receiving inspector approval.

Who can use this service?

This service is available to all businesses wishing to begin construction or modification of a Compact Mobile Food Operation or Mobile Food facility within San Luis Obispo County.

Is there a charge for this service?

Please refer to our Fee Schedule or contact our office at (805) 781-5544.

When and where is this service offered?

This service is available throughout the year during regular business hours except during scheduled holidays.

Please visit us, email us, contact us, or call our office to begin the process.

Location, directions and hours of operation

Click on location name to show hours of operation, directions and phone information

Environmental Health Services Supervisors

Environmental Health Services is open Monday-Friday from 8am to 5pm. 

Cindy Rattigan (805) 781-5544 [email protected]

Jeremiah Damery (805) 781-5548  [email protected]

  • Beach Water Quality, Cross-Connection, Land Use, Small Public Water Systems, Water Well Programs and Vector Programs

Leslie Terry (805) 781-5553  [email protected]

  • Body Art, Food Safety, Public Swimming Pools and Spa Pools

Linnea Chandler (805) 781-4917  [email protected]

  • Hazardous Materials (CUPA) Programs