Spokane County, WA Public Health Rules: Food Handler Certification (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- SCC 3.18, Tent Shows and Tent Meetings
- Cards issued by
- county health officer
- Applies to
- temporary tent assemblies outside cities
- Also required
- inspection of on-site sanitary facilities
- Enforcement
- building official may revoke tent permit
- Scope
- does not cover permanent restaurants
Summary
Any temporary tent structure used for an assembly, fair, revival or festival in unincorporated Spokane County needs a permit under SCC 3.18, and if food or drink is served, every food handler working the event must carry a food handlers' permit card issued by the county health officer under SCC 3.18.100. The health officer separately inspects the site's sanitary facilities before the tent opens.
(a)The county health officer shall make an inspection to determine if provision has been made for satisfactory sanitary facilities on or near the premises on which the structure is maintained or is to be maintained.(b)Quality of food and drink, and methods of service of food and drink, shall meet the lawful requirements of the county health officer, and food handlers shall have food handlers' permit cards issued by the health officer in accordance with existing laws and regulations.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 63).
Full Breakdown
010. 020 means filing plans that address seating, exits, and, per item (6), what "provisions have been made for sanitary facilities" on the premises. " The section does not set its own fee or renewal cycle for the card; it borrows whatever existing health-permitting rules the county health officer already applies. This is narrow by design, it lives inside the tent-show chapter, not a general restaurant code, so it reaches food service at fairs, revivals, carnivals and similar temporary assemblies, not year-round eateries. 130 lets the building official revoke the whole occupancy permit for the structure, shutting the event down rather than just fining the vendor.
Violations & Fines
There is no separate dollar fine written into Chapter 3.18 for missing food handler cards; instead the building official can find the whole assembly out of compliance and revoke the tent permit under SCC 3.18.130 if the county health officer's sanitary or food handler requirements are not met, or if the premises are otherwise maintained in violation of any permit condition or as a life safety hazard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this rule cover restaurants in unincorporated Spokane County?
Who issues the food handler permit card?
What happens if a vendor works without a card?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Spokane County
Compare Spokane County to another location·View the Washington public health rules overview
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