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Food and Restaurants
Research various permitting requirements associated with establishing different types of Food and Restaurant Facilities including restaurants (includes cafes and coffee shops),farmers' markets, mobile food facilities, cottage food operations, and catering businesses.
Resources for all Food Businesses
Permits by Department for all Restaurants
| Department | Requirements | Website | Needs before | Resources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservation and Development Planning Application | Location must meet be allowed in the zoning code | Planning and Zoning Information | Applying for Building Permits Applying for Business Licensing | Find your zoning online map City Planing Department (PDF) |
| Conservation and Development Building Permits | Building must meet health and safety requirements | Building Permit Information | Opening | |
| Environmental Health | Ensure facility meets public health standards | Opening | Plan Review Process | |
| Public Works | Required if sidewalk or other public right of way will be used for seating or other uses. | Encroachment Permit Information | Operating in the sidewalk or other public right of way | |
| Required to create Outdoor or Parklet seating in public right of way or parking area | Planning Applications | Operating Parklet seating | Application (PDF) Application Checklist (PDF) Parklet Guide (PDF) | |
| Business License | Required to operate a Business | Business License Information | Opening | |
| Agriculture/Weights and Measurement | Required oversight if you will be selling anything by weight or if you have a price look up system, | Opening |
Additional Considerations
Will you serve alcohol?
If so, you will need to comply with the following:
- License from California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC)
- If you are in unincorporated Contra Costa County, you will need to comply with the Alcoholic Beverage Sales Commercial Activities Ordinance
Is this a take out food establishment?
Will your restaurant have a charbroiler?
If so, you will need to comply with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) Commercial Cooking Operation Registration.
Does your business store Carbon Dioxide (CO2) or Nitrogen (N2) as a liquid or 1000 cubic feet (or more) as a gas?
If so, a Hazardous Materials CUPA Permit is required within 30 days. Apply online, or call 925-655-3200 for more information.
Permits by Department for Farmer's Markets
| Department | Requirements | Website | Needs before | Resources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservation and Development Planning Application | Location must meet be allowed in the zoning code and comply with the Agricultural Farm Stands and Farm Market Ordinance | Planning and Zoning Information | Applying for Building Permits Applying for Business Licensing | Find your zoning online map City Planing Department (PDF) Agricultural Farm Stands and Farm Market Ordinance |
| Conservation and Development Building Permits | Building must meet health and safety requirements | Building Permit Information | Opening | |
| Environmental Health | Ensure facility meets public health standards | Opening | FAQ for Certified Farmers' Market | |
| Public Works | Required if market will be on public right of way or require street closure | Encroachment and Road Closure Permit Information | Opening (As part of land use entitlement?) | |
| Business License | Required to operate a Business | Business License Information | Opening | |
| Agriculture/Weights and Measurement | County Agriculture Department inspects and certifies markets, grower, and production areas. | Certified Farmer's Market Information | Opening |
Additional Considerations - Delete ALL?
Will you serve alcohol?
If so, you will need to comply with the following:
- License from California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC)
- If you are in unincorporated Contra Costa County, you will need to comply with the Alcoholic Beverage Sales Commercial Activities Ordinance
Is this a take out food establishment?
If you, you will need to comply with the Take-Out Food Establishment Ordinance
Will your restaurant have a charbroiler?
If so, you will need to comply with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) Commercial Cooking Operation Registration.
Permits by Department for Mobile Food
Mobile Food Vendors, or Mobile Food Facilities, include several different types of vehicles that food is sold from, including:
- Ice Cream Trucks
- Hot Dog or Churro Carts
- Frozen Meat Sales Trucks
- Sandwich Trucks
- Taco Trucks
| Department | Requirements | Website | Needs before | Resources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservation and Development Planning Application | Location must meet be allowed in the zoning code and comply with the Agricultural Farm Stands and Farm Market Ordinance | Planning and Zoning Information | Applying for Building Permits Applying for Business Licensing | Find your zoning online map City Planing Department (PDF) |
| Conservation and Development Building Permits | Building must meet health and safety requirements | Building Permit Information | Opening | |
| Environmental Health | Ensure vendor meets food health and safety requirements. Requires Annual Inspection | Opening | FAQs for Mobile Food Facility | |
| Public Works | Required if mobile food facility will be on public right of way or require street closure | Encroachment and Road Closure Permit Information | Opening (As part of land use entitlement?) | |
| Business License | Required to operate a Business | Business License Information | Opening | |
| Agriculture/Weights and Measurement | County Agriculture Department inspects and certifies markets, grower, and production areas. | Certified Farmer's Market Information | Opening |
Additional Considerations - Delete ALL?
Will you serve alcohol?
If so, you will need to comply with the following:
- License from California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC)
- If you are in unincorporated Contra Costa County, you will need to comply with the Alcoholic Beverage Sales Commercial Activities Ordinance
Is this a take out food establishment?
If you, you will need to comply with the Take-Out Food Establishment Ordinance
Will your restaurant have a charbroiler?
If so, you will need to comply with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) Commercial Cooking Operation Registration.
Permits by Department for Cottage Food Operations
California State law allows that certain non-potentially hazardous foods can be prepared within and sold from a private home provided certain requirements are met.
See a list of eligible foods.
| Department | Requirements | Website | Needs before | Resources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservation and Development Planning Application | Any business operating out of a home in unincorporated Contra Costa County , much have an approved home occupancy permit | Planning and Zoning Information | Applying for Building Permits Applying for Business Licensing | How to Apply for a Home Occupation Permit (PDF) City Planing Department (PDF) |
| Conservation and Development Building Permits | Building must meet health and safety requirements | Building Permit Information | Operating | |
| Environmental Health | Ensure vendor meets food health and safety requirements. Requires Annual Inspection | Opening | FAQs for Mobile Food Facility | |
| Public Works | No permits required, unless working within public right of way | Encroachment Permit Information | Opening (As part of land use entitlement?) | |
| Business License | Required to operate a business, including a home based business | Business License Information | Opening | |
| Agriculture/Weights and Measurement |
Additional Considerations - Delete ALL?
Will you serve alcohol?
If so, you will need to comply with the following:
- License from California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC)
- If you are in unincorporated Contra Costa County, you will need to comply with the Alcoholic Beverage Sales Commercial Activities Ordinance
Is this a take out food establishment?
If you, you will need to comply with the Take-Out Food Establishment Ordinance
Will your restaurant have a charbroiler?
Permits by Department for Catering Businesses
A Catering Business Permit to Operate is required before the preparation, selling or giving away of food including beverages. All foods must be prepared at an approved and permitted permanent food facility, such as a Production Kitchen.
Search for a permitted Production Kitchen
| Department | Requirements | Website | Needs before | Resources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservation and Development Planning Application | All businesses must be located in an allowable zoning district. | Planning and Zoning Information | Applying for Building Permits Applying for Business Licensing | Zoning Map Look Up City Planing Department (PDF) |
| Conservation and Development Building Permits | Building must meet health and safety requirements | Building Permit Information | Operating | |
| Environmental Health | Ensure caterers and production kitchens operate in a safe and sanitary manner. | Opening | ||
| Public Works | No permits required, unless working within public right of way | Encroachment Permit Information | Opening (As part of land use entitlement?) | |
| Business License | Required to operate a business, including a home based business | Business License Information | Opening | |
| Agriculture/Weights and Measurement |
Additional Considerations - Delete ALL?
Will you serve alcohol?
If so, you will need to comply with the following:
- License from California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC)
- If you are in unincorporated Contra Costa County, you will need to comply with the Alcoholic Beverage Sales Commercial Activities Ordinance
Is this a take out food establishment?
If you, you will need to comply with the Take-Out Food Establishment Ordinance