Food Temporary Events

The California Health and Safety Code section 114387 requires a Temporary Food Facility (TFF) Permit of any person or organization that is providing food or beverages at a public event. All food and beverage vendors, including existing restaurants, are required to apply for a Temporary Food Facility Permit when participating in a temporary event.  A TFF permit is valid for one single food booth only. If a vendor is operating more than one booth at an event, a separate permit must be obtained for each booth location. If a vendor will be operating at more than one event in San Diego County on the same day, each location must also be permitted separately. This applies to all TFF permit types, including single and multi-event. More general Temporary Food Event Information can be found here. 

Avoid Food Poisoning, Don't Eat From Unpermitted Food Vendors!
Pollution Prevention at Events

The California Health and Safety Code section 114387 requires a Temporary Food Facility (TFF) Permit of any person or organization providing food at a public event. All food vendors, including existing restaurants, are required to apply for a Temporary Food Facility Permit when participating in a temporary event. There are two types of TFF permits in San Diego County, a TFF Organizer permit and a TFF Vendor permit for operating a booth (Right click on your mouse and "save as" for full PDF functionality, including digital signatures).

*** 05/05/2021: Application updates are anticipated for Summer 2021. Please check back after July 1, 2021 for updated documents. ***

A permit is required for public events providing food and shall be applied for at least 30 days prior to the event start date. Should you have any questions, feel free to call our Temporary Events Line (858) 505-6809 or email fhdtempevents@sdcounty.ca.gov.

Please note that applications submitted less than 14 days prior to an event will be subject to an additional late fee.
 

Refer to the California Retail Food Code (CalCode), Chapter 11 (Health & Safety Code, Sections 114335 to 114363) for Temporary Food Facility requirements. Temporary Food Facilities must also meet all applicable requirements in CalCode Chapters 1 to 8, inclusive, Chapter 12.6, and Chapter 13, unless specifically exempted.

Annual Prepackaged Food and Beverage Vendors are required to submit a copy of their California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Processed Food Registration (PFR) when applying for a Temporary Event Vendor Annual Prepackaged Food Vendor Permit. Learn more about how to obtain a Processed Food Registration.

1. Submit a complete application and applicable fees. TFF Organizer Application   TFF Vendor Application
2. Applications and fees can be mailed, submitted in person, or emailed to fhdtempevents@sdcounty.ca.gov. Ensure checks are made payable to “County of San Diego”.
3. Applications for Temporary Food Facility annual permits must include a Commissary Agreement Letter / Out of County Commissary Agreement Letter and evidence of a Food Safety Certificate. 
4. If approved, the “Temporary Food Facility Permit" will be issued by the Environmental Health Specialist on the day of the event, or issued through your Event Organizer.
5. Use the Self Inspection Checklist to help prepare for the event.
6. Review the Watershed Protection Program Pollution Prevention Guidance Document. 

If you already have a valid "Temporary Food Facility Permit" issued by this department, please do the following:

1. Provide the Temporary Food Facility Event Organizer with a photocopy of your permit.
2. Post the original permit in the booth/on the mobiel food facility, when open for business. Photocopies will
    not be accepted.
3. Utilize the Self Inspection Checklist to help prepare for the event.
4. Review Watershed Protection Program Pollution Prevention Guidance Document. 

General Temporary Food Event Information.

Please view our PowerPoint presentation, "Certified Farmers' Markets and Temporary Events", designed specifically for farmers' markets and temporary event organizers. Use the Temporary Event Self Inspection Checklist to help prepare for the event. 

Agriculture, Weights and Measures (AWM) has created a Self-Inspection Checklist for operators at Certified Farmers' Markets.  Please view their PowerPoint presentation, "Certified Farmers' Market Self-Inspection Checklist" for more information.
 

If you have questions regarding obtaining a health permit for a temporary event, please contact us.

Temporary Events Phone: (858) 505-6809

Temporary Events E-mail: fhdtempevents@sdcounty.ca.gov