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

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

System
Green/yellow/red placard grading
Worst case
Red placard = immediate closure
Agency
ACDEH
Posting
Within 5 ft of entrance

Summary

Alameda County's Department of Environmental Health scores unincorporated-area food facilities and posts a green, yellow, or red placard after each inspection.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Alameda County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

A. The placard grading system consists of green, yellow and red placards for inspection and scoring of food facilities. B. The health inspector shall order immediate closure of the food facility upon issuance of a red placard. The health permit issued to the food facility shall be suspended and the red placard, which is a notice of closure, shall be posted until the health permit is reinstated.

View official code

Full Breakdown

Chapter 6.68, the Retail Food Facility Ordinance, requires the Alameda County Department of Environmental Health (ACDEH) to inspect food facilities and post a color-coded placard: green, yellow, or a red "notice of closure" placard that triggers immediate closure and permit suspension under Section 6.68.060. The placard must stay visible within five feet of the front entrance, and the underlying inspection report must be kept on-site for public review. ACDEH covers unincorporated communities like Castro Valley plus any incorporated city in the county that hasn't authorized its own local health officer under state law; cities that have done so run their own food inspection program instead.

Violations & Fines

Removing, defacing, or hiding a required placard violates Section 6.68.080 and can trigger re-inspection fees, additional fines set by Board of Supervisors resolution, and suspension or revocation of the health permit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the county grade restaurants inside incorporated cities?
Only cities that rely on ACDEH; a city that has authorized its own local health officer under Section 6.68.020 runs its own inspection program instead.
Can I remove a red placard once I fix the issue?
No: only ACDEH can replace it. A red placard stays posted until the health inspector reinstates the permit after a new inspection.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Alameda County

Food Handler CertificationLight RestrictionsSyringe DisposalSome RestrictionsRodent ControlFew RestrictionsParking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: Preferential Parking DistrictsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome RestrictionsLandscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage TreesSome RestrictionsWater Use Rules: Recycled Water RulesLight RestrictionsHistoric Preservation: Historic-Cultural MonumentsSignificant Restrictions

All Alameda County rules

California rules heatmap·Compare Alameda County to another location·View the California public health rules overview

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Restaurant Grade Cards in Cities Across Alameda County

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