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

Pomona folds food-safety certification into its sidewalk vending permit process rather than running a separate food handler ordinance. Under Sec. 30-675(d), every sidewalk vendor applying for a permit must present valid identification, a City of Pomona business license, proof of liability insurance, and, if the vendor sells food, two additional items required by subsection (d)(5): a copy of a course completion certificate showing the vendor finished a food handler course in accordance with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, and a current Los Angeles County Public Health Permit for the specific cart, stand, or other conveyance used, which must also be approved by that county department.

Sec. 30-676(h) then requires the vendor to physically display both the city's permit decal and the county health permit on the vending equipment at all times while operating, so an inspector can verify certification on the spot without pulling records. The sidewalk vending program coordinator, created under Sec. 30-673, evaluates permit applications to confirm these requirements are satisfied before a permit issues, and the sidewalk vending permit itself must be renewed every year under Sec. 30-675(e). A vendor who sells food without a valid food handler certificate and county health permit is submitting an incomplete permit application, which under Sec. 30-675(f) exposes the permit to suspension or revocation, separate from any county-level enforcement of the underlying health permit requirement.