How Fontana Handles Public Health Rules: A Practical Guide
Fontana maintains 107 local ordinances across all categories, and 2 of those deal specifically with public health rules. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Fontana falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.
Rodent Control
Fontana controls rodents through its nuisance and trash codes. Section 18-2 declares a building that breeds rodents or vermin, and overgrown vegetation likely to harbor rats, to be public nuisances, and Section 24-13 requires wet refuse to be contained so it causes no vector breeding. Owners get at least 10 days to cure, and violations are misdemeanors with each day a separate offense.
Key details: Household pickup: Waste removed at least once each seven-day period. Business garbage pickup: At least twice each seven days. Container lid: Close-fitting cover, closed except when filling or emptying. Curb timing: Not earlier than 24 hours before, off within 12 hours after. Cure period: At least 10 days; at least 30 days for dangerous buildings.
A violation of Section 18-2 is a misdemeanor under 18-2(f), and under 18-20(e) each day a nuisance condition exists is a separate offense. The director of community development issues a notice to abate allowing at least ten days, or at least 30 days for a substandard or dangerous building. If the owner does not comply, the city manager holds a hearing and issues an abatement order, and the city can abate the nuisance itself. Costs become a special assessment or lien on the parcel, and a second judgment within two years exposes the owner to treble abatement costs under 18-24.
Restaurant Grade Cards
Fontana adopts San Bernardino County's letter-grade inspection program for every place that sells or serves food, with the county's environmental health division doing the inspecting and enforcing on the city's behalf. Restaurants must post their letter grade card where the public can see it, and defacing or removing it is a separate violation.
Key details: Program: San Bernardino Co. Ordinance No. 3930, adopted by reference. Enforcement agency: County Dept. of Public Health, Environmental Health. Posting: Letter grade card in prominent, visible location. Card tampering: Defacing or removing the card is a violation. Scope: Anywhere food or beverages are sold in city.
Operating without the letter grade card posted violates Sec. 13-31(e)(1). Defacing, hiding or removing a posted card violates Sec. 13-31(e)(2) and, per County Code Section 33.0112 as adopted, can trigger suspension or revocation of the establishment's public health permit in addition to the posting violation itself.
The Bottom Line
Fontana's public health rules rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Fontana is broadly strict or permissive.
Keep in mind that Fontana can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, which shows when its source was last checked.