Catering and Other General Food Service Operations Health Permitting

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Environmental Health Services is open Monday-Friday from 8am to 5pm. Members of the public that are not vaccinated should wear a mask for the safety of County staff and other members of the public. The County will not verify vaccination status among members of the public visiting our facilities who are not wearing masks. Please visit ReadySLO.org for current COVID-19 information.

The Health Agency is actively responding to COVID-19 and continuing to provide other essential services. Please see updates from Animal Services, Behavioral Health, Public Guardian and Public Health.

Elizabeth A. Pozzebon, DrPH, REHS

Environmental Health Division Director

Environmental Health Supervisors

Leslie Terry

(805) 781-5553; [email protected]

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

Aaron LaBarre

(805) 781-5595; [email protected]

Body Art, Food Protection, Swimming Pools and Spas.

Peter Hague

(805) 781-5554; [email protected]

Hazardous Materials (CUPA) Programs

Catering and Other General Food Service Operations Health Permitting

What is this service?

This service allows you to apply for or renew a permit to conduct a Food Service/Catering Operation within San Luis Obispo County.

What is the process?

Step 1: Provide Signed Commissary Form

All caterers must store all food and equipment and perform all food preparation activities in a permitted commercial kitchen.

A commissary form completed and signed by both the permit holder of the permitted commercial kitchen and individual requesting the catering permit must accompany the health permit application. Download the catering application packet (including the commissary form) here.

Please note, if you are a caterer and the permit holder of the facility in which the catering operation food storage and preparation activities will occur, then this step is not required. Please visit our page on obtaining a food facility health permit for information on how to permit your commissary location. Caters who are also the permit holder of the commissary facility in which food storage and preparation activities occur will not be required to obtain a catering health permit in addition to a commissary health permit.

Step 2: Provide proof of food safety certification

Caterers must successfully pass a food safety certification course and provide proof of certification upon request for a permit to operate or within sixty (60) days of obtaining a permit to operate. A food handler card obtained through an online course will not be accepted. Download a list of food safety certification course options.

Step 3: Pay health permit fee

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

Step 4: Schedule Inspection

Contact us if you have any questions or to schedule an inspection of your Food Service/Catering Operation prior to beginning operation.

Information regarding requesting a Food Service/Catering inspection.

Step 5: Await Inspector Approval to Begin Operation

It is unlawful to begin operation of a new Food Service/Catering Operation without first receiving approval from an inspector in addition to a valid Health Permit to Operate.

The inspector will grant approval to begin operation upon completion of an initial inspection.

Who can use this service?

This service is available to any individual wishing to obtain an initial permit or renew a permit to conduct a Food Service/Catering Operation within San Luis Obispo County.