Passaic, NJ Public Health Rules: Restaurant Grade Cards (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- §149-11, Ch. 149 Food Establishments
- Enforcing agency
- Division of Health
- Placard placement
- Eye level, conspicuous, next to license
- License fee range
- $100-$200 by size/seating
- Max penalty
- $2,000 fine or 90 days (§1-3)
Summary
Every retail and wholesale food establishment in Passaic must post its latest Division of Health inspection evaluation placard at eye level where patrons see it before or upon entering. Posting an outdated, unauthorized or altered placard is a separate violation, and inspectors, police officers and city officials can demand to examine the placard on the spot.
A. All retail food establishments and wholesale food establishments shall post the latest inspection evaluation placard provided by the Division of Health in a conspicuous place, alongside the license issued under this article, where it may be readily viewed at eye level by all patrons before or immediately upon entering the establishment. B. It shall be unlawful to post any other evaluation placard other than the latest evaluation placard provided by the Division of Health. ... D. It shall be unlawful for the any person to erase, cancel, deface, or alter an evaluation placard once it has been issued by the Division of Health. E. The owner or person in charge of an establishment shall permit any City of Passaic official, inspector or police officer who has presented proper identification to fully examine any evaluation placard issued by the Division of Health.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4978046; v41 updated 2026-07-01; through 07-01-2026).
Full Breakdown
Section 149-11 of Chapter 149, Food Establishments, governs restaurant grading in the City of Passaic. It requires every retail food establishment and wholesale food establishment to display the most recent inspection evaluation placard issued by the Division of Health, positioned conspicuously alongside the establishment's food license, at eye level, where any patron can see it before or immediately upon walking in. The section makes it unlawful to post any placard other than the current one issued by the Division of Health, unlawful to obstruct any portion of the placard from view, and unlawful for anyone to erase, cancel, deface or alter a placard once issued.
Any City of Passaic official, inspector or police officer who shows proper identification is entitled to fully examine the posted placard on demand, giving code enforcement a direct field-check mechanism independent of a formal inspection visit. C. C. 1. License fees run $100 to $200 depending on seating capacity or floor area, with a $35 duplicate-license fee and a $50 late fee for renewals filed after January 15. Renovations, expansions or substantial alterations require Division of Health plan review and approval before any building permit issues.
Violations & Fines
Posting no placard, an outdated placard, or an altered one is a separate offense from any underlying health-code violation and is enforced by the Division of Health under the Code's general penalty at Section 1-3: up to a $2,000 fine, 90 days' imprisonment, or 90 days of community service, with the Division authorized to revoke or suspend the establishment's license under Section 149-42 for ongoing noncompliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Passaic post restaurant grades like New York City's letter grades?
Can a restaurant just take down a bad placard?
Who can demand to see a restaurant's inspection placard in Passaic?
What does it cost to get a food license inspected in Passaic?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Passaic
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