What permits do you need to open a food truck in Monterey County?

Mobile Food Facility Health Permit

A food truck, cart or other mobile food facility operating in Monterey County needs a health permit from the Environmental Health Bureau; the fee depends on the type of unit and how much food preparation it does, per Article I.E of the County Master Fee Resolution (Resolution No. 26-074, adopted 24 March 2026, effective July 1, 2026). The Bureau's Mobile Food Facilities page says that for limited-food-preparation units 'Environmental Health shall review and approve the written operational procedures prior to operation', and that the completed forms 'must be completed and returned to this office for approval before a permit is issued.' The same page adds: 'For vendors located in incorporated cities in County of Monterey, contact your local city jurisdiction for additional information regarding street vendor operations. For vendors located in unincorporated areas of County of Monterey, please contact County of Monterey Housing and Community Development at (831) 755- 5025.'

Food Handler Card

The state does not sell the card and sets no fee of its own — it caps the market instead. At least one accredited course and examination must cost no more than $15 including the card, and if no course is available at that price the requirement does not apply at all. A handler has 30 days from hire to obtain one, it lasts three years, and it travels with the person rather than the employer. Since Senate Bill 476 the employer must treat the training and examination as paid working time, relieve the worker of other duties while they do it, reimburse the cost, and may not require a card as a condition of being hired. The exemptions are broad: grocery and convenience stores, school cafeterias, certified farmers' markets, licensed health care facilities, and any workplace covered by a collective bargaining agreement with its food handlers. Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties run their own card programmes under a pre-2009 carve-out and charge their own fees. Do not confuse this with the separate food safety MANAGER certification, which is one certified person per facility and lasts five years.

Shared with other businesses in Monterey County

• Temporary Food Facility Permit (community events) — County of Monterey Health Department, Environmental Health Bureau, Temporary food facility: 1-3 days (for profit) $519; 1-3 days (non-profit, after 4 events in a fiscal year) $362; 4-7 days (for profit) $628; 4-7 days (non-profit, after 4 events in a fiscal year) $459; temporary food facility with food preparation, annual permit $1,100. Facility offering only nonperishable prepackaged food, beverages or whole uncut produce: per event $132; annual permit $500., per event, or annual for the annual permits. Also required for restaurants, coffee shops and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
• Food Facility Permit — California Department of Public Health, Food and Drug Branch, No fee, set by the local enforcement agency. Also required for restaurants, coffee shops and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.