Mobile Food Facilities are inspected to ensure safe food handling practices, sanitation, and compliance with California Health and Safety Code and Riverside County Ordinances, just like fixed food facilities. Construction inspections, routine inspections, and complaint investigations, including foodborne illness complaints, are conducted.
There are five categories of Mobile Food Facility (MFF) that can be permitted:
- Cart/Trailer - Low Risk: A Compact Mobile Food Operation that engages in prepackaged food only (e.g. prepackaged push carts).
- Cart/Trailer - Medium Risk: A Compact Mobile Food Operation that engages in Limited Food Preparation (e.g. hot dog carts).
- Truck - Low Risk: A motorized MFF that operates with prepackaged food only (e.g., ice cream trucks).
- Truck - Medium Risk: A motorized MFF that engages in limited food preparation (e.g., shaved ice cart or hot dog cart).
- Truck/Trailer - High Risk: A MFF that engages in full food preparation (e.g., food trucks).
Compact Mobile Food Operations (CMFOs)
On September 23, 2022, Governor Newsom signed SB 972, a bill that modifies the California Retail Food Code (CRFC) creating a new category of Mobile Food Facilities for street vendors called Compact Mobile Food Operations (CMFOs). A Compact Mobile Food Operation (CMFO) is a mobile food facility that operates from a pushcart, pedal-driven cart, wagon, showcase, rack, or other nonmotorized transport. CMFOs can conduct limited food preparation of non-potentially hazardous and potentially hazardous food. Health and safety requirements will vary based on the menu and the type of operation.
CMFO Information Bulletin
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For more information on unpackaged CMFOs, contact our Plan Check Specialist Jeff Lojeski at [email protected] or (760)320-1048. Click here for Spanish.
Mobile Food Facility Flowchart
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Not sure what Mobile Food Facility type you fall under? Check out our chart!
FAQs
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Still have questions about operating a Mobile Food Facility or CMFO? Check out the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). Click here for Spanish.
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Food Facility Quick Links
Approved Mobile Food Facilties
Check out Permitted Food Carts/Trucks in Riverside County
Ability-to-Pay Administrative Citation Fines
Sidewalk Vending Citations Only
| Mobile Food Facility Required Forms | Mobile Food Facility Informational Documents |
|---|---|
| MFF Permit Application | MFF Construction and Plan Approval Guidelines |
Commissary Agreement Letter | MFF Operational Guidelines for NON-PREPACKAGED vehicles | |
| Commissary Schedule/Route Sheet | Limited Food Preparation |
| Written Operational Procedures Mobile Food Facility | Mobile Support Unit | List of Commissaries: | |
| Laboratories for Water Quality Analysis: |
| Can a Restaurant Be Used as a MFF Commissary?: | | |