Environmental Health Services

A health permit to operate a Mobile Food Facility will not be issued unless all construction and operational requirements are met.  If you have completed a plan check for your Mobile Food Facility and have already been working with an inspector, proceed to step 2.

If you are just starting out, to ensure that the Mobile Food Facility will meet requirements, it is strongly recommended to have an inspector perform a consultation inspection prior to purchasing or building any Mobile Food Facility.  Please note, it is unlawful to build a Mobile Food Facility without prior written approval from this office.

Prior to contacting our office for a consultation, please review the Mobile Food Facility operation and construction document pertaining to the type of unit planned to be operated to determine whether the Mobile Food Facility meets the requirements.

• Review the mobile food facility operation and construction requirements
• Review operational requirements for unenclosed mobile food facilities (in addition to document above)
• Information regarding Housing and Community Development (HCD) licensing
• Information regarding licensing and permitting for soft-serve ice cream and yogurt products

Please note, there is no fee for an initial consultation to determine what is required to meet health permitting requirements.

• View the Mobile Food Facility inspection page for information on requesting an inspection.

Once an inspector has determined that the Mobile Food Facility is eligible for health permitting, continue to step 2.

Complete and submit the following items:

1. Health permit application

• Click here to download the health permit application.

2. Proposed menu and food service operations

• Click here to download the Menu Items and Food service Operations form.

3. Mobile Food Facility Commissary Review/Needs Assessment Form

All mobile food facilities must operate in conjuction with a commissary, mobile support unit, or other facility approved by Environmental Health Services to store all food and equipment and perform all food preparation activities. All mobile food facilities must report to the commissary on a daily basis for cleaning and servicing.

The commissary will be reviewed for approval by this department prior to granting a permit to operate. The proposed menu and food operations will determine the commissary needs of the mobile food facility operator. 

• Click here to download a Mobile Food Facility Commissary Review Form.

*Exemptions apply for mobile food facilities operating in conjunction with a permitted mobile support unit.  please contact our office at (805) 781-5544 for more information on mobile support unit permitting.

4. Commissary Use Agreement Form

A use agreement form completed and signed by both the permit holder of the commissary and the mobile food facility operator permit is required. Please note, if you are the permit holder for both the mobile food facility and the commissary, then this submission of a signed commissary form is not required.  Click here to visit our page on obtaining a food facility health permit for information on how to permit your commissary location.

• Click here to download a Commissary Use Agreement Form.

5. Written Operational Procedures for Mobile Food Facility Operators

If your plan is to perform catering operations at off-site private or public events and/or direct sales from permitted host kitchen in addition to direct sales from the shared primary kitchen facility, then written standard operational procedures are required.

• Click here to download the Written Operational Procedures for Mobile Food Facility Operators form.

6. Restroom Use Agreement form

Mobile Food Facilities which stop at a single location for one hour or more are required to secure restroom facilities for use by employees.  A separate form is required for each location as applicable.

• Click here to download the Restroom Use Agreement form.

• All Mobile Food Facilities where nonprepackaged potentially hazardous foods are handled and/or served must have at least one owner or employee who has successfully passed a food safety certification course.

• Proof of certification shall be provided upon request for a permit to operate or within 60 days of obtaining a permit to operate.

• A food handler card obtained through an online course will only be acceptable for Mobile Food Facility employees in addition to the certified owner or employee, not in lieu of the certification course. Click here to download a list of food safety certification course options.

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

After steps 1 - 4 have been completed, contact us to schedule an inspection. It is encouraged to have the inspection occur at the commissary or operating location, however, if this is not possible, other arrangements can be made.

Upon completion of a passing inspection, a permit sticker will be affixed to the exterior of the Mobile Food Facility.  Please note, it is unlawful to operate a Mobile Food Facility without the health permit sticker affixed to the exterior.  Additionally, a paper version of the health permit will be mailed out 2-4 weeks after payment has been made and approval to operate has been granted by the inspector.

• View the Mobile Food Facility inspection page and for information on requesting an inspection.