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What's new with the Mobile Food Facility Program:
2022 Permit Renewal Process
Invoices were not sent out this year (2022) in the mail due to unforeseen circumstances, however renewal information was sent to permit holders by e-mail, posted on Environmental Health’s website, and posted at Orange County mobile food facility commissaires. Health permit renewal payments and past due fees must be made in person at the Environmental Health Division Office at 1241 E. Dyer Rd, Suite 120, Santa Ana, CA 92705.
Please be advised:
- Permit renewal is not complete without proof of payment AND a vehicle inspection conducted in the field at a route or event stop. Payments must be made before November 14, 2022 to avoid late payment penalty fees. Field inspection must be completed before December 30, 2022.
- All vehicle permits that expired on August 31, 2022 will lapse after December 30, 2022. MFFs without a valid Orange County permit and inspection decal will be issued a closure notification.
- Lapse of health permit may require vehicle construction plan submittal to bring the vehicle into compliance with California Retail Food Code requirements.
MFFs that use commissaries within Orange County must bring the following to their permit renewal:
MFFs that use commissaries outside of Orange County must bring the following to their permit renewal:
If the MFF has a change of business ownership, discontinued operations in OC, or was sold - written notification is required at the time of the change by submitting a completed Change of Ownership/Termination of Ownership Form and return by mail to Environmental Health 1241 E Dyer Rd, Suite 120, Santa Ana, CA 92705 or email to ehmobilewholesale@ochca.com.
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As of January 2021, a paper health permit, which has been designed to look like all other health permits issued to food operations in Orange County will be mailed to the business owners current mailing address, therefore please verify all information provided on your application submittal is accurate. The state health code requires all food operations post their health permit in a location where your customers can see it.
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VEHICLE PERMIT RENEWALS – It is the business owner’s responsibility to maintain a valid Orange County health permit on the vehicle or notify this Agency in writing at the time of any change in ownership, sale of the vehicle, or if the vehicle stops operation in Orange County. At time of the change, written notification is done by submitting by mail or email to EHPermits@ochca.com a Change of Ownership / Termination of Ownership form found HERE. Vehicles operating without a valid permit are subject to closure.
Vehicles / Carts with a:
- Lapsed Permit
- Change of Ownership
- Change in menu, equipment, or operation
- Remodel
Will need to meet current California Retail Food Code requirements, which may involve upgrades and plan submittal before a permit is issued. For more information call 714-433-6416.
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Helpful Vehicle Information
Here are some examples of mobile food facilities:
Unpackaged Trucks/Trailers
Examples: catering trucks, taco trailers, lunch trucks, hot trucks, chef trucks or any fully enclosed vehicle used for food preparation activities. All food preparation, cooking and storage must occur inside the vehicle or at an approved commissary.
Prepackaged Trucks
Examples: ice cream trucks and grocery trucks or any mobile food facility that stores and sells only prepackaged food. If prepackaged perishable foods are sold, approved refrigeration is required on the vehicle.
Unpackaged Carts
Examples: carts selling churros, pretzels, popcorn, shaved ice, hot dogs and coffee/cappuccino. These carts can serve unpackaged food with limited food preparation.
Prepackaged Carts
Examples: Carts selling prepackaged ice cream and chips. These types of carts are limited to selling of prepackaged foods only.
If you are not sure about a type of facility, how to get a health permit to operate in Orange County, or have questions pertaining to regulations, please contact us at 714-433-6416.
Vehicle Program Awarded for Achievements at the OC Fair
The Food Vehicle Program was recognized by the Orange County Business Council with an honorable mention award for "Turning Red Tape into Red Carpet" in the category of “Bureaucracy Busters” for their work at the OC Fair. The Vehicle Program created a food safety and inspection tools to expedite the inspection and permit process and allow the food vendors to open on time for the 1.3 million OC Fair patrons. The new approach includes pre Fair coordination with the stakeholders, development of a Self-Inspection form for the Fair operators, and bringing in a team of food inspectors to inspect all the Food Vehicles on the first day of the Fair. This approach has helped to facilitate the opening and permitting of the Vehicles in a timely manner, given more responsibility to the Fair food vendors, and focused the inspection efforts more on issues of public health significance.
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