BUREAU OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
CATERERS, SHARED KITCHEN, AND HOST FACILITIES
Long Beach Environmental Health Bureau issues permit to Caterers, Host facilities and Shared Kitchen Operators that are engaged in retail food activity and offer their service to public.
CATERER
Caterers provide food service at a location other than the caterer’s permitted food preparation location. These services are provided in either a contracted offsite food service event or in conjunction with a host facility with direct food sales to customers. Catering services could include set-up and take-down, limited food preparation, serving food or bartending. Caterers may not use a private home or unlicensed kitchen to store food, store equipment and utensils, and handle or prepare food. All food preparation, food storage, and equipment storage must be conducted within a commercial kitchen at which the caterer possesses a current and valid health permit.
- Catering Standard Operating Procedure
- Permitted Caterers in the City of Long Beach
HOST FACILITY
Breweries, wineries, commercial buildings, or other locations that meet specific requirements to support a catering operation may be eligible for a Host Facility permit. A catering operation at a host facility provides food directly to individual consumers for a limited period of time, up to four hours, in any 12-hour period. Caterers must have a valid health permit and all food shall be prepared at their approved catering kitchen. No food or equipment can be stored at a Host Facility.
- Host Facility Plan Check Process
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Limited Food Preparation
SHARED KITCHEN
A commercial food facility that meets specific operational and structural requirements may be permitted as a Shared Kitchen Facility. Each business operating from a shared kitchen must obtain their own health permit. A health permit can be denied if the proposed shared kitchen cannot support the food operation.
