Kern County, CA Public Health Rules: Restaurant Grade Cards (2026)

030. A score of 90% or higher earns an 'A'; 80% to under 90% earns a 'B'; 75% to under 80% earns a 'C'; and any score below 75% requires the facility to close immediately with its environmental health permit suspended, rather than posting a numeric grade. 040, the director must post the resulting inspection grade card at or near an entrance patrons use, or in another conspicuous place the director selects, and the card cannot be defaced, marred, camouflaged, hidden or removed. Operating a food facility without a posted grade card is unlawful unless the director has approved an exception in advance.

050 keeps the grade card valid until the next routine inspection or until the facility closes. 060 to file a written appeal, which the director must hear within three business days and decide within one business day, and the old card stays posted until the appeal resolves. 070 lets a permittee request one paid re-score inspection per fiscal year within seven days of the original inspection, unless the director closed the facility during that inspection.