San Jacinto, CA Public Health Rules: Restaurant Grade Cards (2026)

Section 5.44.040 of the San Jacinto Municipal Code sets the grading system. The health officer inspects and grades all restaurants uniformly under the score card kept on file in the office of the city clerk. The grade is the sum of the "Equipment" and "Methods" scores divided by two. The grade card is provided by the health officer, is not more than nine inches by eleven (11) inches, and carries a grade letter not more than five inches in height. Grade A cards are printed in blue, grade B in green and grade C in red, all on white stock. The card is posted in a conspicuous place selected by the health officer at or near each patron entrance and is removed only by the health officer. Private schools are not required to post one.

Inspections follow § 5.44.030. The health officer grades each restaurant from time to time as he or she deems proper, and must inspect and grade within five days after written demand from the owner, operator or person in charge of a restaurant that scored less than ninety (90) percent on its last inspection. Each inspection record is signed, and a signed copy is delivered personally to the person in charge.

The grade ties to the permit. Under § 5.44.020, no one can operate a restaurant without a valid permit from the health officer, permits expire annually on the thirty-first day of December, and renewal is due within thirty (30) days after. Section 5.44.050 declares that continued operation below eighty (80) percent is not in the public interest and requires revocation of the permit of any restaurant that does not reach eighty percent within thirty (30) days after service of written notice that specifies the deficient equipment and methods.