Temporary Food Facilities (TFFs), even those with a valid annual permit, are only allowed to operate at sanctioned community events.
"Community Event” is defined in the California Health and Safety Code section 113755 as an event conducted for not more than 25 consecutive or nonconsecutive days in a 90-day period and that is civic, political, or educational in nature, including state and county fairs, city festivals, circuses and other public gathering events approved by the local enforcement agency. Vendors who sell or give away food/beverages at community events are required to have a health permit with Riverside County Environmental Health.
An Event Organizer permit is also required for the person or organization responsible for facilities that are shared by two or more food facilities. Community events with only one food/beverage vendor are not required to have an organizer or pay the Event Organizer permit fee, but the TFF Operator must still submit all the required paperwork and secure their Single Event TFF permit. Annually permitted TFFs do not need to resubmit the Community Event Food Facility – Operator’s Agreement Form for each event but will still need to be listed on the Community Event Organizer’s application.
Temporary Food Facilities / Food Booths
We have recently streamlined the Temporary Food Facility (TFF) permitting paperwork process and eliminated the individual TFF Application. Completed paperwork and Single Event TFF permit fees will be collected and submitted to Riverside County Environmental Health by the Community Event Organizer.
Each Single Event TFF will have a separate fee based on the food being offered. New Annual TFF categories have also been added as an option.
• Annual Prepackaged TFF - $199
• Annual Unpackaged TFF - $498
• Prepackaged Food/Beverages - $50
• Unpackaged Open Food/Beverages - $100
Single Event TFF operators will need to submit all paperwork and applicable fees to the Community Event Organizer in order to be included in the event.
• Community Event Food Facility - Operator's Agreement Form (Spanish)
Community Event Organizers
Community Event Organizers are responsible for obtaining all approvals and permits from local jurisdictions to hold their event (City, County, Police, Fire…). Prior to approval from Riverside County Environmental Health, an application must be submitted to the appropriate planning department for events held in city limits or in unincorporated Riverside County. Check with the appropriate planning department for more details regarding their requirements.
In addition, a Community Event Organizer must secure an Organizer Permit from Riverside County Environmental Health at least 2 weeks prior to the event. Events are limited to 25 operating days in a 90-day period.
| Submittals must have all the required paperwork to be considered complete: • Community Event Organizer Application • Event Organizer Fee - $149.00 • Temporary Food Facility Permit Fees: - $50.00 for each Prepackaged Single Event Temporary Food Facility - $100.00 for each Unpackaged Single Event Temporary Food Facility • Complete list of food/beverage vendors. (Although additional fees or paperwork are not required for annually permitted Temporary Food Facilities or Mobile Food Facilities that have a valid Riverside County permit, they must still be included on the list along with their Riverside County permit number.) • Community Event Food Facility - Operator’s Agreement Forms (Spanish) and government issued ID’s for the Community Event Organizer and all Single Event Temporary Food Facility vendors. • Detailed map of the event layout. • Approval documentation/Special Use Permit from the City or County, depending on where the event will be held. | Image
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*A late fee of $249.00 will be assessed if complete paperwork is not submitted a minimum of 2 weeks prior to the start of the event.
Annual Temporary Food Facilities
Starting in January 2026, Riverside County Environmental Health will be implementing annual TFF permits for both prepackaged and unpackaged food/beverage vendors. These permits will be valid for a full calendar year and will be renewed each December. TFF operators who are interested in this option will pay one set annual fee and are able to operate a single booth at any permitted event in Riverside County once they have been accepted as a vendor by the Community Event Organizer. Separate permits will be required if you intend to operate two or more booths at the same time.
Annual TFF Permit Pricing: To apply for an Annual TFF permit, submit the following to your local Environmental Health office: • Government issued ID | Image
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