Retail Food Program FAQs

Temporary Event Food Facilities

What is a temporary food facility?

- A temporary food facility is a food facility operating out of a temporary structure, such as at a fair or street festival. The temporary food facility is fixed for a period of time not exceeding 25 consecutive days or nonconsecutive days in a 90 day period in conjunction with a single event or celebration. All temporary food facilities must be approved by Environmental Health.

Do I need a health permit for temporary events?

- Yes. When you serve food to the general public (either selling or giving away food) a permit is required.

What are the requirements for temporary events?

- See requirements for temporary food facilities

Can I have a temporary event permit application mailed to me?

- Yes. An application can be obtained by calling Contra Costa Environmental Health Services at 925-692-2500 or to see a temporary event permit application form (37k PDF, 1p.).

Is there a deadline to apply for a temporary event food booth permit?

- Yes. The application can be obtained by calling Contra Costa Environmental Health Services at least two weeks before the event is scheduled to be held.

Who is required to submit the application?

- The coordinator(s) of the event. Vendors are required to contact the event coordinator(s) to participate in any event and both profit and non-profit organizations and/or vendors are required to apply.

What are the fees for a temporary food facilities/event permit?

- There is a basic application of $35.00 required by Contra Costa Environmental Health for each temporary food facility /event and an additional permit fee of $97.00 for each for-profit booth operating at the event. Therefore, the total cost for the temporary food facility/event will vary depending on the size and/or the nature of the event.

Does this additional $97.00 per booth fee apply to every vendor who operates a food booth at the temporary food facilities/event?

- No. The $97.00 per booth fee only applies to for-profit food booths. Non-profit booths and those individuals claiming veteran's fee exemption do not have to pay a per booth fee however each non-profit food booth must provide documentation confirming their non-profit status and non-profit tax I.D. number and every vendor/booth claiming veteran's status must submit a copy of their DD214 form.

If the temporary food facilities event being held is strictly non-profit, am I still required to pay the $35.00 application fee?

- Yes. A $35.00 application fee is required by Contra Costa Environmental Health Services for all temporary food facilities events. This fee is non-refundable and applies to every temporary event regardless of the nature of the event. Non-profit booths and vendors claiming veteran's status are not excluded from paying this application fee and are not exempt from any of the requirements in the operation of temporary food facilities event.

What kind of booth do I have to have for a temporary food facilities event and how big does it have to be?

- All food booths must be fully enclosed and fly-proof(unless the booth is selling only prepackaged food that has been prepackaged in an approved, fully enclosed commercial facility) and each booth must be large enough to accommodate all activities involved in the safe handling, sale, service, storage, and preparation of food.

Do I really need to have an enclosed booth?

- Yes, when your serving non-prepackaged food.
- No, if you have only prepackaged food items only.

What kind of equipment and/or food preparation is allowed outside of the food booth?

- No equipment other than open-air barbecues are allowed outside of the booth and the only food preparation allowed outside of the booth is cooking on an open-air barbecue where the food is in direct contact with the heat source. All other equipment and food related items or activities are not allowed outside of the booth and must be kept inside at all times during the course of the temporary event.

Can I set up a table in front of my restaurant during a temporary food facilities event?

- This request would have to be reviewed on a case-by-case basis before a decision could be made by Contra Costa Environmental Health Services.

Are there any other requirements I should be aware of regarding the cooking of foods in a booth at at temporary food event?

- The Fire Department may have additional requirements regarding the use of cooking equipment and/or the set-up/construction for a food booth at a temporary food facilities event. See a list of the additional requirements the fire department may have.

Can I sell foods at a temporary food facilities event that I have made at my home?

- No. Home prepared foods or foods from unlicensed food facilities are not allowed to be sold or given away to the public. All food must be from approved commercial sources and must be prepared inside an approved food booth or licensed commercial food facility.

Temporary Food Event requirements.

Content provided by Contra Costa Health Services, Environmental Health Division.