Obtaining a Public Health Permit/License

Welcome to the Environmental Health Division's Public Health Permit/License page. If you are planning to construct a new facility or are seeking a permit due to change of ownership for an existing business, please review the instructions below. In some cases, prior approval from the Environmental Health Division may be required before construction can begin.

New Facilities

Change of Ownership

Changes of ownership for any business must contact the program or district office to schedule an inspection to determine if the business is in compliance with appropriate health and safety codes. Complete the application and provide it to the inspector along with all the required documents when they come to complete the inspection. Please see the instructions for your type of business below for information on how to request a site evaluation of your business in order to obtain a permit.

Submitting Your Plan Electronically

Please visit our Electronic Plan Submittal Instruction Page.

Visit our Plan Check Program page to see which plan check type applies to you.

Resources

Permit/License Application:
Public Health Permit/License Application

Current Permit/License Fees:
Public Health and Financial Management Fee Schedule

Payment and Questions

Do not send a payment for a Public Health Permit or License unless you have received an invoice from Public Health. When submitting a payment, please be sure to include the detachable portion of the invoice with your payment and write the account number and invoice number on your check. If you need a copy of a previously issued invoice, or have questions regarding what applications you need and the current fees, please contact our Permits and Licensing Program at EHPermits@ph.lacounty.gov or at (888) 700-9995, Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (except for Holidays).

For complete information about Animal Keeper, please visit our Animal Keepers Page.

For complete information about body art, please visit our Body Art Page.

For complete information about cannabis, please visit our Cannabis Page.

For complete information about catering facilities, please visit our Catering Facilities Page.

For complete information about certified backflow prevention device tester, please visit our Certified Backflow Tester Page.

For complete information about certified farmers' markets, please visit our Certified Farmers' Markets Page.

For complete information about children's camp, please visit our Children's Camp Page.

For complete information about commercial laundries, please visit our Laundries Page.

Application Process for Community Event Organizer/Temporary Food Facility Permit and Exemption Certification

An Exemption Certification, Event Organizer and Temporary Food Facility Application must be submitted at least 30 days before the event. Applications submitted less than 14 calendar days before the event (including those requesting a fee exemption) will be considered late and will be subject to a late fee equal to 25% of the permit fee or $50.00, whichever is greater. All fees must be paid at the time the application is submitted.

For complete permitting and application information, please visit the Community Events webpage. Contact the Community Events Program at (626) 430-5320 or email CommunityEvents@ph.lacounty.gov for any questions.

For complete information about class A cottage food operators, please visit our Class A Cottage Food Operators Page.

For complete information about class B cottage food operators, please visit our Class B Cottage Food Operators Page.

For complete information about cross connections and backflow prevention devices, please visit our Backflow Device Testing and Registration Page.

For complete information about custom slaughterhouses, please visit our Custom Slaughterhouses Page.

For complete information about employee cafeterias, please visit our Employee Cafeterias Page.

For complete information about film production food services, please visit our Film Production Food Services Page.

For complete information about food demonstrators, please visit our Food Demonstrators Page.

For complete information about food warehouses, please visit our Food Warehouses Page.

For complete information about garment and apparel facilities, please visit our Garment Manufacturing Facilities Page.

For complete information about graywater, please visit our Graywater Page.

For complete information about Hotels, Housing Facilities, and Institutions, please visit our Hotels, Housing Facilities, and Institutions Page.

For complete information about Interim Housing, please visit our Interim Housing Page.

For complete information about landfills, please visit our Landfills Page.

For complete information about self-service laundries, please visit our Self-service Laundries Page.

For complete information about massage establishments, please visit our Massage Establishments Page.

For complete information about medical marijuana identification card, please visit our Medical Marijuana Identification Card Page.

For complete information about micro market, please visit our Micro Markets Page.

Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation (MEHKO) is a new type of retail food facility to be operated by a resident in a private home.

For complete information about MEHKO, please visit our MEHKO Page.

For complete information about food trucks, please visit our Food Trucks Page.

For complete information about organized's camp, please visit our Organized Camp Page.

For complete information about pet and anminal food stores, please visit our Pet and Animal Food Stores Page.

For complete information about recycled water reuse sites, please visit our Alternate Water System Plan Submission Page.

For new construction or major modification of a restaurant, contact the Plan Check Program at (626) 430-5560 for submittal information. Major modification refers to renovation or expansion of a food preparation area involving the replacement or addition of equipment and/or fixtures.

If you are purchasing a restaurant without making changes to equipment or menu, contact a local Environmental Health District Office or the appropriate programs listed below:

  • Specialized Food Services Program at (626) 430-5421 - Food businesses in airports, sporting venues/stadiums, Shared Kitchen Complexes, Motion Picture Catering businesses, Food Banks
  • Camps and Schools Program at (626) 813-3428 - Food operations in public and private school cafeterias, Organized Camps and Children's Camps
  • Lodging & Institutions Program at (213) 351-0288 - Food businesses in hotels, motels, boarding homes, interim housing facilities

For complete information about restaurants and retail food stores, please visit our Restaurants and Retail Food Stores Page.

For complete information about school cafeterias, please visit our School Cafeterias Page.

For complete information about onsite wastewater treatment system, please visit our Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Page.

For complete information about sewage pumping vehicles or chemical toilets, please visit our Sewage Pumping Vehicles and Chemical Toilets Page.

For additional information about Shared Kitchen Complexes, please visit our Shared Kitchen Complex Page.

Updates

Mobile Food

Recent Updates for Mobile Food Facility Permits

On February 6, 2024, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved changes to health permits, fees, and services for mobile food businesses that took effect on March 6, 2024. View the Changes Announcement and the New Mobile Food Facilities Fee Schedule for more information.

Updated: 2024-05-14

Wondering how to get started as a compact mobile food operator? We have created a toolkit to help ease the process in getting started on your CMFO journey in Los Angeles County. Visit our Sidewalk Food Vending Page to learn more.

For complete information about solid waste facilities, please visit our Solid Waste Facilities Page.

For complete information about State small water systems wells, please visit our State Small Water Systems Wells Page.

For complete information about swimming pools, please visit our Public Pools Page.

For complete information about swimming pools, please visit our Swimming Pool Service Technician Page.

For complete information about theaters, please visit our Theaters Page.

For complete information about tobacco retail store, please visit our Tobacco Retail Facilities Page.

For complete information about waste tire sites, please visit our Waste Tires Page.

For complete information about wholesale food, please visit our Wholesale Food Page.

For complete information about wiping rag businesses, please visit our Wiping Rag Page.

For complete information about X-rays and radioactive devices, please visit our X-Rays and Radioactive Devices Page.