Long Beach's Public Health Rules: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles public health rules a little differently. In Long Beach, California, there are 5 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Calorie Labeling

Chapter 8.17 caps the default beverage restaurants may bundle with a children's meal in Long Beach: water, nonfat or 1% milk or a non-dairy alternative under 130 calories per serving, or 100% juice under 40 calories per serving, per LBMC § 8.17.030. Customers can still request a soda or other drink instead, the rule only sets the automatic default.

Key details: Governing section: LBMC § 8.17.030, Chapter 8.17 (2017). Applies to: any Long Beach "restaurant" selling children's meals. Default milk cap: under 130 calories per serving. Default juice cap: 100% juice, under 40 calories per serving. Water options: plain, sparkling or flavored, no sweeteners.

Noncompliance is enforced through the administrative citation process in LBMC Chapter 9.65, per § 8.17.050, rather than criminal court; restaurants remain subject to periodic inspections under Chapter 8.44 to confirm compliance, and offering a higher-calorie or artificially sweetened drink as the automatic default triggers a citation even though customers can still order it on request.

Restaurant Grade Cards

Long Beach requires every food facility to post its Health Department inspection summary report where patrons can see it, on the front door or window within five feet of the entrance, or another conspicuous spot the Health Officer designates, under LBMC § 8.45.050. Defacing, hiding or removing the posting is itself a separate violation.

Key details: Governing section: LBMC § 8.45.050, Chapter 8.45 (re-enacted 2026). Posting location: front door/window within 5 ft of entrance. Posting duration: until next routine inspection, § 8.45.060. Full report: kept on-site, available to public on request. Tampering: defacing or removing posting is a violation.

Operating without the inspection summary posted, or defacing, hiding or removing it, violates Chapter 8.45 and can trigger suspension or revocation of the food facility's public health permit; § 8.45.080 separately sets a fine of up to $500 or up to six months in County jail, with each day of a continuing violation charged as a distinct offense.

Bed-Bug Rules

Under California AB 551, Long Beach landlords must disclose bed bug information to tenants, refrain from renting infested units, and cannot retaliate against tenants who report infestations to property managers or code enforcement.

Key details: State law: CA AB 551. Disclosure timing: Before lease signing. Notice deadline: Two business days. Tenant remedy: Habitability claim.

Failure to disclose, renting a known-infested unit, or retaliating against a reporting tenant exposes landlords to civil damages under Civil Code 1942.5, code enforcement citations, and habitability claims that can support rent withholding.

Rodent Control

LBMC § 8.08.220 bars any owner, occupant or person in control of property from letting dead animals, manure, garbage, refuse or decaying material accumulate on the premises or a vacant lot, and specifically requires salvageable material to be stored so it can't become a rodent harborage or insect breeding site. Standing wastewater and unsanitary animal enclosures are equally prohibited.

Key details: Governing section: LBMC § 8.08.220, Communicable Diseases chapter. Duty holder: owner, controller or occupant of premises. Covered material: dead animals, manure, garbage, refuse, decaying matter. Salvage storage: must prevent rodent harborage or insect breeding. Drainage: standing wastewater onto premises prohibited.

Letting garbage, manure, decaying material or improperly stored salvage accumulate, allowing standing wastewater, or keeping an unsanitary animal enclosure violates § 8.08.220 and is a misdemeanor under LBMC § 1.32.010, up to a $1,000 fine, six months in jail, or both, with each day of the condition a separate offense, and the condition itself declared a public nuisance subject to City abatement.

Food Handler Certification

Every food employee in Long Beach must obtain a state-approved food handler card within thirty days of hire and a certified food protection manager must be on staff at each food facility under California state law.

Key details: Card validity: Three years. Manager certificate: Five years. State law: CA SB 602. Deadline: 30 days from hire.

Operating without required food handler cards or a certified manager can result in inspection deductions affecting the A/B/C grade, administrative citations, and in repeated cases suspension of the health permit.

The Bottom Line

Long Beach'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 Long Beach is broadly strict or permissive.

All of the above reflects Long Beach's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.