Ridgecrest, CA Public Health Rules: Restaurant Grade Cards (2026)
Key Facts
- A grade
- 90% or higher
- B grade
- 80-89%
- C grade
- 75-79%
- Below 75%
- immediate closure, permit suspended
- Citation
- Ridgecrest City Code § 8-23
Summary
Ridgecrest requires every food establishment to be inspected and posted with a letter-grade placard, A for 90%+, B for 80-89%, C for 75-79%, and establishments scoring below 75% must close immediately and lose their health permit.
The inspection summary report of each food establishment shall be posted.
(1)The letter "A" shall indicate a final score of 90 percent or higher.(2)The letter "B" shall indicate a final score of less than 90 percent but not less than 80 percent.(3)The letter "C" shall indicate a final score of less than 80 percent but not less than 75 percent.(4)A numeric score shall be indicated for a final score of less than 75 percent. Establishments that score below 75 percent will be required to close immediately and the environmental health permit will be suspended.(5)The inspection summary report shall be posted at a food establishment by the health officer upon completion of an inspection. (Code 1980, § 4-23.103; Ord. No. 06-19, § 1)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 6).
Full Breakdown
Article II of Ch. 8 (Secs. 8-20 through 8-28) establishes Ridgecrest's food establishment grading system, administered by the county environmental health services department acting as the city's health officer per Sec. 8-21. Under Sec. 8-23, every food establishment is inspected and graded on a scoring form: an "A" placard for 90 percent or higher, "B" for 80-89 percent, "C" for 75-79 percent, and a numeric score below 75 percent, which triggers immediate closure and suspension of the environmental health permit. The inspection summary report must be posted at or near an entrance (Sec. 8-24), stays valid until the next inspection (Sec. 8-25), and a permittee can request an appeal (Sec. 8-26) or a one-time annual re-score inspection (Sec. 8-27).
Violations & Fines
Operating a food establishment without the required inspection summary report posted, or defacing/removing it, is a misdemeanor under Sec. 8-22 and can trigger suspension or revocation of the environmental health permit (Sec. 8-28).
Frequently Asked Questions
What score does a restaurant need to stay open in Ridgecrest?
Who inspects and grades Ridgecrest restaurants?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ridgecrest
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How other cities in Kern County handle restaurant grade cards.