Palm Springs, CA Public Health Rules: Food Handler Certification (2026)
Key Facts
- Certification deadline
- 14 days after starting food-handling work (§ 6.07.020)
- Certificate validity
- 2 years from issuance (§ 6.07.060)
- Qualifying step
- Pass health officer's exam (§ 6.07.050)
- Exemptions
- Domestic, charitable, students under 16 (§ 6.07.030)
- Display duty
- Continuous display at workplace (§ 6.07.100)
Summary
Anyone handling food, drink, or food-service dishware for a Palm Springs establishment must hold a food worker's certificate within fourteen days of starting the job, § 6.07.020, and the certificate expires two years after issuance, § 6.07.060. Domestic work, charitable events, and students under sixteen in school food operations are exempt under § 6.07.030.
No person shall engage or serve in any work, occupation or employment which requires or occasions the handling of any food, liquid or material intended for food or drink for human consumption or the handling of any dishes or other articles used in the preparation or service of food or drink for human consumption, who does not hold or produce a food worker's certificate as required by this chapter within fourteen days after engaging or serving in such work, occupation or employment ... and no owner, manager or agent of such owner, or person in charge of any establishment or business shall retain in the employ thereof for the performance of such services, any person who does not hold and produce a food worker's certificate as required by this chapter within fourteen days after such person engages or serves in such employment ... Such certificate shall expire two years after the date it was issued.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4923139; v14 updated 2026-06-24).
Full Breakdown
020 makes it unlawful both for a worker to keep handling food, drink, or food-service dishware without a food worker's certificate more than fourteen days after starting the job, and for an employer to keep that person employed past the same fourteen-day deadline. 040. 060 issues a certificate showing certificate number, name, home address, expiration date and signature, valid for two years, and lets the health officer issue a temporary certificate for up to three months while investigating a health concern such as suspected active tuberculosis. 070. 090. 100, returning each certificate to its holder upon termination.
Violations & Fines
Any violation of Chapter 6.07 is punishable as specified in Sections 1.01.140 and 1.01.150, and each day a violation continues is a separate offense, § 6.07.110. That includes working or employing someone past the fourteen-day certification deadline in § 6.07.020 and failing to keep certificates on continuous display under § 6.07.100.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do new Palm Springs food workers have to get certified?
How often does a Palm Springs food handler certificate need renewal?
Are volunteers at a church potluck required to get a food handler certificate in Palm Springs?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Palm Springs
California rules heatmap·Compare Palm Springs to another location·View the California public health rules overview
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Food Handler Certification in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Riverside County handle food handler certification.