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 health permit application packet which includes all required supplemental forms.

• Mobile Food Facility Application Packet for a Health Permit (all required forms included) (click to download)

If you are an existing Mobile Food Facility already under permit with this office, but have a change to your commissary location, operational procedures, or require additional Restroom Use Agreement forms, download the following forms individually as needed. For first time permittees, please note that all forms are also included in the above Health Permit Application Packet, however additional details and requirements are provided below for your reference. 

• Signed Commissary Use form (click to download)

All mobile food facilities must store all food and equipment and perform all food preparation activities not occurring on the permitted mobile food facility in a permitted commercial kitchen or commissary.  *All mobile food facilities must report to the commissary on a daily basis for cleaning and servicing.

A commissary form completed and signed by both the permit holder of the permitted commercial kitchen and permit holder of the mobile food facility must accompany the health permit application.

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.  Please visit our page on obtaining a food facility health permit for information on how to permit your commissary location.

*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.

• Written Operational Procedures form (click to download)

Written Operational Procedures are necessary to provide a detailed description of the planned operation of the Mobile Food Facility including but not limited to foods to be served, method of preparation, cleaning and sanitization, and servicing of the Mobile Food Facility.

• Restroom Use Agreement form (click to download)

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.

• 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.