Shasta County, CA Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Food Truck Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit issuer
- County Health Officer
- Governing section
- Shasta County Code Sec. 8.16.030
- Permit term
- 1 year from issuance
- Fee
- Set by Board of Supervisors resolution
- New permit needed
- On ownership or location change
- Display requirement
- Posted conspicuously on the vehicle
Summary
Any itinerant restaurant, mobile food vehicle, or vending machine operating in unincorporated Shasta County needs a valid health permit from the county health officer before serving the public. Section 8.16.030 makes it unlawful to operate without one, and the permit must be renewed yearly, displayed on the vehicle, and reissued whenever ownership or location changes.
It is unlawful for any person to operate or maintain any restaurant, itinerant restaurant, vehicle or vending machine in the county unless such person possesses a valid unrevoked health permit issued by the health officer for each restaurant, itinerant restaurant, vehicle or vending machine so operated or maintained. The health officer shall issue such permits pursuant to Sections 8.16.040 through 8.16.070.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code: Supplement 22).
Full Breakdown
030 requires every restaurant, itinerant restaurant, mobile food vehicle, and vending machine operator to hold 'a valid unrevoked health permit issued by the health officer' before doing business anywhere in the unincorporated county. 050, which checks compliance with state and county public-health law before clearing the operation as safe. 040, and the health officer forwards that fee to the county treasurer. 060 the permit lasts one year from issuance unless the health officer revokes it for cause; a change in ownership of the truck or a change in the location of a fixed restaurant automatically voids the existing permit and triggers a new application.
070 requires the permit to be posted or displayed in a conspicuous place in or on the vehicle, so inspectors and customers can confirm it on sight. 080, posts a copy of each inspection report on the vehicle, and can examine food-purchase records at his or her discretion. 110, operators must also follow the state sanitation provisions the county incorporated by reference for itinerant restaurants and vehicles. The permit system applies countywide to any cart, truck, trailer, or stand serving food to the public, with no exemption for part-time or seasonal vendors.
Violations & Fines
Operating an itinerant restaurant, mobile food vehicle, or vending machine without a current health permit is unlawful under Section 8.16.030. If the health officer finds a sanitation violation, Section 8.16.150 lets the officer immediately exclude the affected employee, close the operation until the hazard is resolved, and seize contaminated food. A permit can be revoked outright, but only after the health officer notifies the holder in writing and five days pass without the violation being corrected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to run a food truck in unincorporated Shasta County?
How long does a Shasta County mobile food permit last?
Can the county shut down my food truck for a sanitation problem?
Does the permit have to be visible on the truck?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Shasta County
California rules heatmap·Compare Shasta County to another location·View the California food trucks & mobile vendors overview
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