Novato, CA Public Health Rules: Food Handler Certification (2026)

Section 7-1.3 of the Novato Municipal Code is the City of Novato's rule on the health of food workers. It works through the certificate that section 7-1.2 requires every food establishment to hold. No certificate to operate is issued until the provisions of the section, the California Restaurant Act and the rules of the State Board of Public Health have been complied with. Further, no certificate issues until satisfactory evidence is presented to the county health officer that all employees of the establishment have had at least minifilm x-rays of the chest within the preceding 12 months and have been found free of any infectious disease in a communicable stage.

The word employee carries a wide meaning under section 7-1.1. It covers any person working in a food establishment, with or without pay, who handles food during any phase of its storage, preparation, manufacture, distribution, serving or display, or who comes in contact with food equipment, utensils or machinery. An owner who handles food is subject to the same requirements as any other person so engaged.

The certificate expires six months after the date of issuance and is not transferable on change of ownership of a food establishment. Inspections under the section are based on the California Restaurant Act and the rules of the State Board of Public Health and later modifications. The Health Officer is the health officer of Marin County or an authorized representative.

Section 7-1 prints no training course, exam or food handler card requirement. The only worker-level condition it sets is the chest x-ray evidence in section 7-1.3.