Clark County, NV Public Health Rules: Food Handler Certification (2026)
Key Facts
- Recertification interval
- Every 2 years
- Exam authority
- Clark County district board of health
- Max penalty
- $500 fine plus 6 months jail
- Applies
- Countywide, incorporated and unincorporated areas
Summary
Clark County requires anyone working as a food handler, inside or outside incorporated cities, to pass a health board examination and retake it every two years.
No person may be employed as a food handler in the county, both within and without the unincorporated and incorporated cities and towns, unless such person submits to an examination, as may be required by the Clark County district board of health, and complies with all conditions and instructions as said board may prescribe to prevent the spread of contagious disease, and resubmits to such examination every two years while so employed.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 147).
Full Breakdown
Clark County Code § 9.16.030 requires every food handler in the county, both unincorporated areas like the Strip and incorporated cities like Las Vegas, to pass an examination set by the Clark County district board of health and follow its instructions to prevent disease spread. The exam must be repeated every two years while the person remains employed. Violators face a misdemeanor: up to a $500 fine and six months in jail under § 9.16.080, with the district board of health empowered to bar employment for failing to comply, per § 9.16.070.
Violations & Fines
Employing an uncertified food handler is a misdemeanor: up to a $500 fine and six months in county jail, with each day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the food handler card requirement apply on the Las Vegas Strip?
How often must a Clark County food handler recertify?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Clark County
Compare Clark County to another location·View the Nevada public health rules overview
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