Bergenfield, NJ Public Health Rules: Restaurant Grade Cards (2026)

Bergenfield Borough Code § 344-33, part of the Sanitary Code's article governing retail food establishments, requires every retail food establishment in the Borough to immediately post its latest evaluation placard from the Health Department. The placard must go in a conspicuous spot near the public entrance, at approximately eye level, so a customer can read it before or immediately upon entering, rather than tucked behind a counter or in a back hallway. The rule sits between § 344-32's grease-trap maintenance requirement and § 344-34's pesticide-notice posting, and the two postings work together: § 344-34B requires the applicator's pesticide notice, listing the date of the latest application, the pesticide used, and a contact name and phone number, to be posted permanently right next to the Health Department evaluation placard whenever an establishment has insecticides or rodenticides applied.

The evaluation placard reflects the routine sanitary inspections the Bergenfield Health Department conducts under this chapter, which also sets separate standards for prepackaged food labeling (§ 344-30), NSF-approved equipment (§ 344-31), and public restroom facilities (§ 344-35). Because § 344-33 carves out no exemption by establishment size or type, a diner, pizzeria, deli or grocery counter selling prepared food is covered equally, and the placard requirement runs continuously, not just after a fresh inspection: it is the "latest" placard that must stay posted at all times.