Mobile Food Facilities
If you are planning to build your own commissary for storing and servicing your food truck or trailer, you’ll need to submit plans and follow the proper construction guidelines.
Required documents:
Be sure to review both documents carefully before beginning construction to ensure your commissary meets all health and safety requirements.
An approved commissary is a permitted facility where mobile food trucks or trailers can safely store, service, and prepare food.
- You may use a permitted commissary located outside of San Bernardino County, as long as it holds valid permits.
- The commissary must be able to support the specific operations of your food truck or trailer.
View the Mobile Food Facilities Approved Commissaries List:
To maintain an active and valid health permit for your food truck or trailer, an annual decal renewal inspection must be completed before paying the invoice.
- Schedule an in-person decal inspection by calling 800.442.2283
- Bring the following required documents to your appointment:
Note: The decal renewal inspection must be completed during the month your health permit expires in order to stay valid.
Once your health permit is issued, you can operate in the following ways — provided you meet any additional location-specific requirements:
- Free Roaming– You may sell in approved locations within city jurisdictions. City approval is required before operating. Examples: Breweries, grand openings, religious events.
- Community Events– You can participate in approved community events. No additional county permits are needed for these events. Examples: Concerts, festivals, fairs.
- Private Catering– You may provide catering services for private gatherings. Examples: Weddings, warehouse catering, private parties.
A Mobile Food Facility (MFF) health permit from San Bernardino County Environmental Health Services only covers health and safety requirements. It does not grant permission to operate at any location.
Additional approvals or licenses may be required depending on where you plan to operate, including:
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City business licenses
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Property owner permission (for private property)
Always check with the local city or property owner to confirm what additional licenses or approvals are required.
To ensure your food truck or trailer meets the necessary standards, please review the following documents carefully:
Be sure to read through these documents thoroughly to understand all the construction requirements before beginning your build.
To operate your food truck or trailer at approved community events only within San Bernardino County, you will need a Temporary Food Facility (TFF) Health Permit.
Follow these steps:
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Review the TFF Vendor Requirements
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Complete the Application for Temporary Food Facility (TFF) Health Permit
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Submit your completed application to TFF@dph.sbcounty.gov for processing.
Once your plans have been approved, follow these steps to proceed:
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Obtain an insignia from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).
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Complete any corrections listed on the approved plan review report.
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Schedule your final construction inspection by calling our office at 800.442.2283.
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Fill out and bring the following documents to your final inspection:
Note: All documents are required and must be completed to finalize the permitting process.
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First Submission- 20 business days for review.
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Resubmission- 7 business days for review.
For more detailed information on the plan check process, you can view our Plan Check Timeline.
No, you do not need to pay the plan review fee again when resubmitting your plans. Once the necessary corrections are made, you can resubmit your plans without an additional fee.
To resubmit:
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Submit three (3) sets of revised paper plans along with one (1) set of the rejected paper plans, or
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Submit one (1) set of revised electronic plans along with one (1) set of the rejected electronic plans.
You can resubmit your plans digitally via email to EHS.CustomerService@dph.sbcounty.gov.
To submit plans for review, please make sure to include all of the following documents:
You can submit your completed application and plans in person or by mail to any of our three office locations in Rancho Cucamonga, San Bernardino, and Hesperia.
Please note: Cash and check payments are only accepted at the Rancho Cucamonga and San Bernardino offices. Cash payments must be made for the exact dollar amount.
Prefer to submit digitally?
You can email your documents to EHS.CustomerService@dph.sbcounty.gov and make your payment online through our secure payment portal.
Yes, at least one person in the vehicle shall have a valid Food Safety Certificate available for review in the vehicle. Only the original version will be permitted.
All employees handling food shall have their food worker certification available for review upon inspection.
The letter grade will be posted by a DEHS health inspector in a location that is clearly visible to the general public and shall remain in place until the next routine field inspection.
A Mobile Food Facility with an annual MFF health permit will be issued a letter grade at the conclusion of each of the two routine field inspections.
A Mobile Food Facility, Medium and High Risk will be inspected twice per year. Route schedules should be updated so that vehicles can be located for inspection.
No, free roaming Mobile Food Facilities cannot be stored at your home. They must be stored and serviced at an approved commissary.
Yes, even if your food truck or trailer has been approved and permitted in another county, it must go through the EHS plan review process to operate in San Bernardino County.
To learn how to submit your plans, please review the “How do I Submit Plans?” question.
Refer to the Mobile Food Facility – Build It Right or contact DEHS Plan Check at 800-442-2283.
A Mobile Food Facility can be classified as a fully enclosed vehicle used for prepackaged potentially hazardous and non-potentially hazardous foods or vehicles where food preparation is observed.