Lakewood, CA Public Health Rules: Restaurant Grade Cards (2026)
Key Facts
- 'A' grade threshold
- 90% or higher inspection score
- 'C' grade threshold
- 70% to under 80% score
- Automatic closure risk
- Below 70% or below 'C' grade
- Posting location
- Within 5 feet of front door
- Card validity
- Until next routine inspection
- Enforcing agency
- LA County Dept. of Public Health
Summary
Every food establishment in Lakewood must post the county health officer's letter grade or numeric inspection score after each routine inspection, under Municipal Code § 5203.2. A grade below 'C,' meaning a score under 70%, lets the county health officer close the establishment immediately, and covering, removing, or defacing a posted card is itself a separate violation.
Section 8.04.225 GRADING & LETTER GRADE CARD. A. "Grading" means the letter grade issued by the county health officer at the conclusion of the routine inspection of a food establishment. The grade shall be based upon the scoring method set forth in this section resulting from the Food Official Inspection Report and shall reflect the food establishment's degree of compliance with all applicable federal, state and local statutes, orders, ordinances, quarantines, rules, regulations, or directives relating to the public health. ... C. The county health officer, in his discretion, may immediately close any food establishment which, upon completion of the routine inspection, does not achieve a "C" grade as defined herein. ... D. The letter grade shall be based upon the final numerical percentage score set forth in the Food Official Inspection Report as follows: 1. A grade of "A" shall indicate a final score of ninety percent (90%) or higher; 2. A grade of "B" shall indicate a final score less than ninety percent (90) but not less than eight percent (80%); 3. A grade of "C" shall indicate a final score less than eighty percent (80%) but not less than seventy percent (70%).
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4901715; v5 updated 2026-04-28; through 04-28-2026).
Full Breakdown
Section 5203, added by Ordinance 98-3, amends the Los Angeles County Health Code as adopted into Lakewood's own Public Health Code to require a letter grade and inspection system. 275. 752 requires the Letter Grade Card, the Inspection Score Card, or both, to be posted clearly visible to patrons, either in the front window within five feet of the front door, in an outside display case within five feet of the door, or in another location the county health officer directs, and bars defacing, marring, hiding, or removing the card.
930. 755, at which point the card and report are refreshed. A Notice of Closure, if the public health permit is suspended or revoked, must stay posted until the county health officer removes it, and removing it early is a separate violation.
Violations & Fines
Operating a food establishment without the required Letter Grade Card or Inspection Score Card posted, or defacing, hiding, or removing a posted card, is a violation of § 8.04.752 punishable under § 8.04.930. Removing a Notice of Closure before the county health officer takes it down is a separate violation that can extend or worsen a suspension or revocation of the establishment's public health permit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What grade does a Lakewood restaurant need to stay open?
Where does the grade card have to be posted?
Can I see the full inspection report, not just the grade?
Who runs restaurant inspections in Lakewood since it's a contract city?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lakewood
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Restaurant Grade Cards in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle restaurant grade cards.