Obtaining a Public Health Permit/License

Welcome to the Environmental Health Division's Public Health Permit/License page. To obtain a permit for a newly constructed business, or change of ownership for an existing business, please see the instructions below.

New Facilities

Change of Ownership

For businesses requiring a Public Health Permits/Licenses (PHP/L) that does not require plan check:

PHP/L are non-transferable and require a new PHP/L application upon change of ownership. Please see the Business Type section below for information on how to apply for a PHP/L.

For businesses requiring a PHP/L and plan check:

PHP/L are non-transferable and require a new PHP/L application upon change of ownership. If no changes have been made to the equipment or facility, apply for a PHP/L and provide required documentation directly to the appropriate program with a statement that indicates "no changes have been made".

An inspection will be conducted after the application is processed and an invoice has been issued and paid. Prepare for the inspection by reviewing the information available in the Business Type section below. Note that if changes to the equipment or facility are found during the inspection, the facility may be required to close until requirements are met.

If changes to the equipment or facility have been made or are planned prior to opening of the business, contact the appropriate program to submit plans and schedule a site evaluation. Refer to the Plan Submittals section below for the respective plan check based on the business type.

Plan Submittals

For businesses selling food, visit our Plan Check Program page to see which plan check type applies to you. Please visit our Electronic Plan Submittal Instruction Page for online submittals.

For Body Art establishments or Cannabis business, contact the Community Health Program.

For Public Swimming Pools, contact the Recreational Waters Program.

For Children's Camps, contact the Camps and Schools Program.

Resources

Permit/License Application:
Public Health Permit/License Application

Some types of businesses are required to submit a supplemental permit application. See business types below for additional requirements.

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 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 commercial laundries, please visit our Laundries Page.

Community Events

A Community Event Organizer permit is required for anyone who organizes a community event that sells or gives away food or beverages to the public. Examples of community events include street fairs and festivals, musical and artistic presentations, sporting events, ethnic celebrations, and trade shows. Community Events are limited to no more than 25 days in a 90-day period and must be is civic, political, public, or educational in nature.

Temporary Food Facilities (TFF)

A Temporary Food Facility (TFF) permit is required for vendors that sells or provides food or beverages at a temporary event. The permit is only valid for one single food booth. If a vendor operates more than one booth at an event, a permit must be obtained for each booth location, and separate applications must be submitted. If a vendor is operating at more than one event in Los Angeles County, each location must be permitted separately. This requirement applies to all TFF permit types, including single event permits and annual permits. A TFF must operate in conjunction with a community event.

Community Event Organizers are to ensure all vendors are compliant with the requirements of the California Health and Safety Code.

Application Process for Community Event/TFF Permit and Exemption Certification

An application must be submitted 30 days prior to the event including those requesting an exemption. Applications submitted less than 14 calendar days prior to the event (including those requesting a fee exemption) will be considered late and are subject to an additional late fee equal to 25% of the permit fee or $50.00, whichever is greater. Fees must be paid at the time the application is submitted.

Applications

Food Trucks and Carts with a current Los Angeles County permit, if approved by the event organizer, may participate at any community event and no additional permits are required.

  • Food trucks and food carts that are not currently permitted by Los Angeles County must obtain a TFF permit.

Food vendors participating at a community event that operate in conjunction with a Certified Farmers' Markets must obtain a TFF permit from Specialized Food Services Program, ehsfs@ph.lacounty.gov.

Non-profit and/or charitable organization, may be exempt from LA County permit fees or California Health and Safety Code requirements, refer to the exemption applications below.

Payment Options

  • Pay Online: You can pay for a Public Health Permit online using your credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover), debit card, and electronic check (ECheck). Please note that there is an additional convenience fee charge per transaction using online payment. The convenience fee for credit/debit cards is 2.22% (with a minimum of $1.49) and $0.49 for electronic checks.

    Contact CommunityEvents@ph.lacounty.gov for payment link.

  • Pay In-Person: You may make a payment in person at the Environmental Health Headquarters located on the address below or any of our other Environmental Health District Offices between the hours of 8:00 am - 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Please contact the Community Events Program for available offices to make a payment. An acceptable form of payment includes cash, cashier's check, or money order. Cash payments made in person must be in the exact amount. Personal checks are not accepted. Please have your Account ID number and Invoice number available at the time of payment.

    Department of Public Health - Environmental Health Division
    Permit and Licensing Program - Cashier/Registration
    5050 Commerce Drive
    Baldwin Park, CA 91706
    (626) 430-5350

    Visit our website for other locations at http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/eh/

For complete information about Community Events, please contact the Community Events Program at (626) 430-5320 or email CommunityEvents@ph.lacounty.gov.

For complete information about cross connections and backflow prevention devices, please visit our Backflow Prevention Devices 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 trucks, please visit our Food Trucks and Carts 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 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.

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 Recycled Water Reuse Sites Page.

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 septic systems, please visit our Septic Systems 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.

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 small water systems wells, please visit our Small Water Systems Wells Page.

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