Pasadena Municipal Code Ch. 8.16 Mobile Food Facilities and Food Transportation Vehicles

The city hereby incorporates by reference the provisions of the California Retail Food Code, (California Health and Safety Code, § 113700 et seq.) The city health department shall have responsibility for ensuring that all mobile food facilities operating in the city comply with the provisions of the above referenced code. Mobile food vehicles shall additionally comply with the applicable requirements in the California Vehicle Code and obtain an insignia from the California Department of Housing and Community Development. In the case of any conflicts between this chapter and state law, the state law provision shall control.

(Ord. No. 7334, § 5, 12-17-2018)

A. It is unlawful for any person to sell or serve food intended for human consumption from a food service cart on any public walkway without a current and valid health permit issued by the Pasadena Public Health Department.

B. Food service cart vendors shall comply with all applicable state health code requirements.

C. A food service cart owner must obtain a separate health permit for each cart used in the city. The health permit shall be conspicuously displayed while operating.

D. It is unlawful for vendors to use amplified sound on food service carts.

(Ord. No. 7334, § 5, 12-17-2018)

A. It is unlawful for any person to sell or serve food intended for human consumption from a mobile food vehicle without a current and valid health permit issued by the Pasadena Public Health Department.

B. Mobile food vehicles shall comply with all applicable state health code requirements.

C. A mobile food vehicle owner must obtain a separate health permit for each vehicle used in the city. The health permit shall be conspicuously displayed while operating.

(Ord. No. 7334, § 5, 12-17-2018)

An operator of a mobile food facility of any kind at any location, and prior to leaving that location, shall pick up, remove and dispose of all trash or refuse which consists of materials originally dispensed by that operator, including any packages or containers, or parts thereof, used with or for dispensing such food.

(Ord. No. 7334, § 5, 12-17-2018)

No person shall discharge liquid waste from a mobile food facility or food transportation vehicle upon any public street, sidewalk or premises in the city.

(Ord. No. 7334, § 5, 12-17-2018)

The city health officer shall be responsible for inspecting and issuing health permits to mobile food facilities and food transportation vehicles operating within the city.

(Ord. No. 7334, § 5, 12-17-2018)

The payment of a permit fee required by the city and the issuance of such permit to any person shall not entitle the holder thereof to carry on any business or activity unless that person has complied with all the requirements of the city's municipal code and all other applicable laws.

(Ord. No. 7334, § 5, 12-17-2018)

No person shall transport food for commercial purposes unless the food is protected from contamination and the vehicle complies with the following:

A. The food transportation vehicle shall have a current and valid health permit issued by the Pasadena Public Health Department.

B. The health permit shall be conspicuously displayed while operating.

C. Upon each side of the vehicle there shall be printed or affixed in permanent, plain, legible letters and numbers at least 3 inches high, the business name; and in letters and numbers at least 1 inch high, the owner's name and city, state, and ZIP code.

D. Except as exempted in Section 8.16.080, vehicle food compartments shall be enclosed, and the exterior doors and windows shall be tightly fitted to prevent the entrance of dust, dirt, water or insects. The walls and ceilings of the food compartment shall be tight and free of cracks, seams, or linings where vermin may harbor, and shall be constructed of a smooth, easily cleanable material. The floor shall be of metal or other washable, impervious material capable of withstanding frequent cleaning, and shall extend a minimum of 6 inches up the side of the compartment. Tight-fitting, nonabsorbent hardwood flooring may be used only when dry products are transported.

E. No food shall be carried in the driver's or passenger's compartment of a vehicle.

F. Potentially hazardous food items requiring refrigeration in accordance with the California Retail Food Code, shall be transported in enclosed compartments capable of maintaining a minimum temperature of 45 degrees Fahrenheit, or if frozen, a minimum temperature of 5 degrees Fahrenheit.

G. All food compartments shall be maintained clean and in good repair.

H. No person shall carry or transport pesticides, poisons or other dangerous chemicals in the same compartment of a vehicle with food, feed or other material intended for consumption by humans or animals. A vehicle contaminated by pesticides, poisons, or other dangerous chemicals shall not be used to transport food or feed unless the vehicle has been decontaminated in manner approved by the health officer.

(Ord. No. 7334, § 5, 12-17-2018)

Food transportation vehicles shall not be required to comply with the enclosure requirements when they carry the following:

A. Non-potentially hazardous foods in hermetically sealed cans or bottles;

B. Fresh, raw, unprocessed fruits or vegetables;

C. Fresh or frozen fish for wholesale delivery; provided, however, that if deliveries shall be confined to whole, unbroken boxes or lots, the fish shall be delivered within three hours after being loaded in containers completely covered with ice. A clean canvas or tarpaulin shall cover all containers while in transit. The vehicles shall be provided with a sloping metal floor turned up on all sides and draining to a receptacle, so as to prevent the spilling of liquid waste on any street, sidewalk or premises.

(Ord. No. 7334, § 5, 12-17-2018)

Food compartment doors shall be maintained closed at all times except when loading or unloading food. No food shall be deposited in an open doorway, or upon a public floor, sidewalk, alley, street, or any place where there is potential for contamination or adulteration. All unpackaged food shall be contained, suspended or handled so that it does not come into contact with the floor of the vehicle or with the body or clothing of the delivery person during loading, transporting and unloading. All unpackaged food shall be loaded and unloaded by the use of hooks, containers, tongs, clean paper or other approved method.

(Ord. No. 7334, § 5, 12-17-2018)

A. Catering vehicles as defined in Section 8.04.020 are excluded from the restrictions stated in this chapter but are required to transport food in accordance with the California Retail Food Code.

B. Private individuals transporting food for personal use are exempted from the provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 7334, § 5, 12-17-2018)