Whatcom County, WA Public Health Rules: Restaurant Grade Cards (2026)

WCC § 24.03.020 adopts Chapter 246-215 WAC, the Retail Food Code, in full, and states that where the county code and the WAC conflict, the more restrictive rule controls; the county automatically absorbs future amendments to the state chapter without re-legislating. Inspectors record findings on DOH Form 332-035, the Food Establishment Inspection Report, which assigns hazard points: red points for the high-risk factors most tied to foodborne illness (temperature control, cross-contamination, employee health) and blue points for lower-risk sanitation and maintenance items, per WCC § 24.03.030.

Every food establishment must hold a permit from the regulatory authority, defined as the Whatcom County health department, issued after an initial satisfactory inspection and payment of the fee; permits run no more than one year and temporary-establishment permits expire on the date printed on the permit (WCC § 24.03.040(A)-(C)). Fees are set by the county council based on the actual cost of the inspection service, and unpaid fines or fees block permit issuance (WCC § 24.03.060). The health department can suspend a permit for grounds beyond those in WAC 246-215-08600, including refusing or failing to immediately fix a red high-risk violation, repeating the same red violation on two inspections within six months, or scoring 40 red points, or 100 combined red and blue points, twice within a 12-month period (WCC § 24.03.040(D)).

Suspension also follows an imminent health hazard such as fire, flood, sewage backup, or an apparent foodborne-illness outbreak, obstructing an inspector, serving unsafe or adulterated food, or failing to correct violations as ordered. Permits are reinstated and revoked under the same state procedure, WAC 246-215-08600.