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

Chapter 18B, adopted by Ordinance No. 4081 on May 6, 2014, establishes color-coded retail food facility placarding, citing authority under Health and Safety Code Section 11709 as printed in the chapter and the California Retail Food Code. Section 18B-2 defines the placard system: green is used for a 'PASS' placard, yellow for a 'CONDITIONAL PASS' placard, and red for a 'CLOSED' placard, each reflecting the facility's compliance status at its most recent routine inspection or re-inspection. Section 18B-3 requires the facility to post the current placard where it is clearly visible to the public and to patrons, meaning in the front window within five feet of the front door, in an outside display case within five feet of the front door, or in another location the Enforcement Agency approves; where a food facility shares a building or a common entrance with another licensed business, the Enforcement Agency designates the posting location.

The placard may not be defaced, marred, camouflaged, hidden, or removed, and operating without a properly posted placard is itself unlawful under Section 18B-3(b). Under Section 18B-4, following the chapter is a condition of the facility's operating permit, so removing a placard can trigger suspension or revocation of that permit along with daily re-inspection fees.