Santa Clarita, CA Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Food Truck Permits (2026)

California added Compact Mobile Food Operations as their own retail food facility category effective January 1, 2023. Health and Safety Code § 114368 sets the default: a CMFO "shall meet the applicable requirements of Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 114294), except as provided in this chapter," meaning full permitting applies unless an exemption fits. 1(a) carves out the exemption that drives most small-cart operations: any CMFO "with 25 square feet or less of display area from which only prepackaged nonpotentially hazardous food and whole uncooked produce is sold is exempt from the requirements of this part," though it must still comply with the general definitions chapters and a handful of named sections covering things like food labeling and vermin control.

1(b) lets the local enforcement agency inspect during operating hours or any reasonable time on a complaint or just cause, and (c) lets that agency recover investigation and enforcement costs. 2 caps preparation to "limited food preparation" as defined in Health and Safety Code § 113818, meaning heating, assembling, portioning or cooking to order, but not thawing, grinding or cooking potentially hazardous food for later use. 4 requires warewashing and handwashing facilities if a CMFO handles raw meat, poultry or fish. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is the local enforcement agency that issues CMFO permits and endorsements for carts operating in Santa Clarita.