What Is New In Food?

Cost Recovery Proposal Hearing - May 6th & May 20th

The County of San Diego, Department of Environmental Health and Quality (DEHQ) has been conducting stakeholder outreach virtual meetings and workshops to share program updates and to provide an opportunity to comment on the fiscal year 2026-27 cost recovery proposal. Thank you to all who have participated and provided feedback. The San Diego County Board of Supervisors will consider DEHQ’s Cost Recovery Proposal to amend portions of the Administrative Code and Ordinances related to DEHQ Fees and Deposits to become effective Fiscal Year 2026-27, in compliance with Board Policy B-29. During the Board of Supervisors meeting on May 6, 2026, the first hearing for this item was rescheduled to May 20, 2026. The second hearing date is scheduled for June 10, 2026.

If you would like to participate in the meeting and/or comment, you can sign up to speak by phone or in-person. Please note the agenda item you want to address. You may not give speaking time to another person.

Discover the new online system for requesting to speak.
• Speak in-person - You can now submit your speaker request before the meeting!
• Speak by phone
• Submit comments

To watch the hearing online
• Web Stream with Agenda
• County News Center
• YouTube (closed captions available)
• Vimeo
• Facebook
• X

More information regarding the cost recovery package can be found on the Project Website. The fees being considered are on the list of proposed fees along with the current fees.

If approved, the fees will become effective July 1, 2026.

To review this information in your language, select your language using the built-in Google Translate function at the top right of this screen.

Cost Recovery Proposal Stakeholder Meeting - Food, Pool, and Misc.

The County of San Diego, Department of Environmental Health and Quality, Food, Water, and Housing Division held stakeholder engagement session for the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 cost recovery proposal on March 24th and March 25th.

If you were unable to attend our engagement session, you can view the presentation recordings below:

FOOD, POOL, & MISC. PROGRAMS COST RECOVERY - Presentation ( Video | PDF )

Departmental information regarding the Department's cost recovery proposal will be posted on the DEHQ website fees page . The Department will present the fiscal year (FY) 2025-26 cost recovery proposal to the County of San Diego Board of Supervisors (Board) in May. If approved, the fees will become effective July 1, 2026.

For questions regarding the meetings and/or cost recovery proposal, contact our Duty Desk at 858-505-6900 or via email to DEH.FHDUTYEH@sdcounty.ca.gov.

To review this information in your language, select your language using the built-in Google Translate function at the top right of this screen.

Single-Use Food Accessories and Standard Condiments

Over the past years, two bills (AB 1884, AB 1276) have been passed as part of the ongoing effort to reduce single-use plastic consumption and plastic waste.

AB 1884 became effective January 1, 2019 and updated Public Resource Code Section 42270 to require that full-service food facilities provide plastic straws to customers only upon request.

AB 1276 became effective June 1, 2022 and updated Public Resource Code Sections 42270 and 42271 to state that food facilities with onsite dining and third-party food delivery services may only provide single-use food ware accessories or standard condiments if requested by the consumer, and that food facilities with drive-through consumers may ask the consumer if the consumer needs single-use accessories or standard condiments for food.

What are single-use food ware accessories?
Single-use food ware accessories include utensils (such as forks, knives, spoons, and sporks), chopsticks, condiment cups and packets, straws, stirrers, splash sticks, and cocktail sticks.

What are standard condiments?
Standard condiments are relishes, spices, sauces, confections, or seasonings that require no additional preparation and are usually used on food after preparation, including ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, soy sauce, hot sauce, salsa, salt, pepper, sugar, and sugar substitutes.

Are there any types of food facilities exempt from this requirement?
Yes, this law exempts Correctional Institutions, Licensed Health Care Facilities, Residential Care Facilities, and Public and Private School Cafeterias. What happens if my facility is not in compliance? Facilities will be informed of, and provided, guidance regarding this new requirement during their next routine inspection. If the facility is observed out of compliance during the following routine inspection (or if a verified complaint is filed), a minor violation will be documented on the inspection report. If the facility is found to be non-compliant after a second notice of violation, the facility is subject to a fine of not more than twenty-five dollars ($25) for each day the facility is in violation, but not more than three-hundred dollars ($300) annually.

Additional Resources
The Surfrider Foundation has created a useful webpage with additional information about how AB 1884 and AB 1276 can benefit local businesses and the steps that can be taken to comply with these requirements. For more information about their local program, visit their website here. There is also free signage available for download and information on how to become an “Ocean Friendly Restaurant” and the benefits of doing so.

To review this information in your language, select your language using the built-in Google Translate function at the top right of this screen.

California State Legislative Updates Effective 01/01/2026

AB 671 - This new law aims to speed up restaurant tenant improvement projects and streamline the plan approval process by amending the Government Code, Business & Professions code and the CRFC. A change to the CRFC includes a new mandated resubmittal review turnaround time for complete plan submissions for restaurants. For additional information, please visit Frequently Asked Questions for AB 671, or visit our Food Plan Check website.
AB 592 - Relates to the CA Retail Food Code (CRFC) and impacts two sections. The first is Satellite Food Facilities and extends the allowance for satellite operations to operate without first applying and gaining approval, from January 2026 to indefinitely, if that jurisdiction has COVID-19 restrictions in place. The second impact is that it allows certain defined restaurants to operate full food preparation with open windows, folding doors, or nonfixed store fronts during hours of operation, if the restaurant develops, and has approved by the local enforcement agency, an Integrated Pest Management and Food Safety Risk Mitigation Plan. For Frequently Asked Questions regarding AB 592, click here.

Temporary Food Facility Program Outreach

View this presentation from our outreach on October 2, 2025 to learn permitting and operational requirements for our Temporary Food Facility Program, as well as our new online application submittal process.

For more information regarding Temporary Food Facility, please visit our Temporary Food Events website.

Compliance Advisory on Behalf of Air Pollution Control District

New Rule 67.26 – Commercial Charbroiling Operations

On August 14, 2025, the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) Governing Board adopted Rule 67.26 for commercial charbroiling operations (https://shorturl.at/Z0XX1). The rule is estimated to reduce 14 tons of Particulate Matter, smaller than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) and 4.5 tons of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) each year. Both are air pollutants which contribute to a wide range of diseases impacting the heart, lungs and brain, and can cause other adverse health effects.

Rule 67.26 is now effective and applies to owners/operators of chain-driven charbroilers operated at commercial food establishments throughout San Diego County. A Compliance Advisory is available with additional information (Rule 67.26-Compliance Advisory), including a list of APCD contacts for questions or assistance.

Sports-Harvested Shellfish Warning

Updated 06/06/2025: CDPH has lifted the shellfish advisory for sport-harvested clams, scallops, and oysters from San Diego County. CDPH Lifts Warnings about Sport-Harvested Bivalve Shellfish from San Diego County.

Please Note: The Annual Mussel Quarantine, prohibiting recreational harvest of mussels for human consumption, is still in effect.

For any questions, call the Shellfish Biotoxin Information Line (800) 553-4133, or visit the California Department of Public Health website regarding Shellfish Advisories or the County’s One Health Epidemiology website.

Food Facility Outreach - Vermin

Watch this video of our recent virtual meeting to learn important tips and best practices for keeping your restaurant clean, safe, and vermin free. The video includes information on applicable code sections related to vermin control within a food facility; how to identify types of vermin and the public health risks associated with them; proper corrective actions, steps, and treatment measures; and steps needed to reopen following a vermin closure. 

To view this video in your preferred language, press settings, then subtitles, then auto-translate and pick your language when captions are made available by YouTube.

Arabic

.لمشاهدة هذا الفيديو بلغتك المفضلة، اضغط على الإعدادات، ثم الترجمة، ثم الترجمة التلقائية واختر لغتك

Chinese

要以您喜歡的語言觀看此視頻，請按設置，然後按字幕，然後自動翻譯並選擇您的語言。

Filipino

Upang mapanood ang video na ito sa gusto mong wika, pindutin ang mga setting, pagkatapos ay mga subtitle, pagkatapos ay awtomatikong isalin at piliin ang iyong wika.

Korean

원하는 언어로 이 비디오를 보려면 설정을 누르고 자막을 누른 다음 자동 번역하고 언어를 선택하세요.

Persian

.برای مشاهده این ویدیو به زبان دلخواه خود، تنظیمات، سپس زیرنویس ها را فشار دهید، سپس ترجمه خودکار را فشار دهید و زبان خود را انتخاب کنید

Somali

Si aad u daawato muqaalkan luuqada aad door bidayso, taabo settings ka dibna qoraal hoosaadyo, dabadeed si toos ah u tarjun oo dooro luqadaada.

Spanish

Para ver este video en su idioma preferido, presione configuración, luego subtítulos, luego traduzca automáticamente y elija su idioma.

Vietnamese

Để xem video này bằng ngôn ngữ bạn ưa thích, hãy nhấn cài đặt, sau đó nhấn phụ đề, sau đó dịch tự động và chọn ngôn ngữ của bạn.

Keeping Your Restaurant Vermin-Free

Watch this video for a look at how to properly maintain a vermin-free restaurant, which includes tips on preventing vermin infestation, conducting routine self-inspections for vermin in the food facility, and taking proper and immediate action to eliminate any vermin issue to protect your customer’s health.