Tacoma restaurants display color-coded inspection cards from Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department: green (excellent), blue (good), yellow (fair), or red (closed) based on routine food-safety inspection results.
Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department (TPCHD) inspects every permitted food establishment in Tacoma at least once or twice annually under WAC 246-215 food code rules. Inspectors score risk-factor and good-retail-practice violations, then issue a colored placard the operator must post conspicuously near the entrance. Green indicates zero or minor issues, blue means a few correctable items, yellow signals repeat or higher-risk findings, and red means imminent-health-hazard closure. Re-inspections within 14 to 30 days can upgrade the card. Inspection reports are public and searchable on the TPCHD website by restaurant name.
Failing to post a current color card, removing or hiding the placard, or operating after a red closure can trigger fines, permit suspension, and immediate shutdown by inspectors.
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See how Tacoma's restaurant grade cards rules stack up against other locations.
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