Riverside County, CA Public Health Rules: Restaurant Grade Cards (2026)
Key Facts
- A grade
- 90% or higher, blue card
- B grade
- 80% to under 90%, green card
- C grade
- Below 80%, red card, may close facility
- Card size
- 9" x 11", letter up to 5" tall
- Reinspection after B/C
- Within 5 working days
- First-offense fine
- $50 to $100 per day
Summary
Every permanent food facility in unincorporated Riverside County must post an A, B or C grade card where patrons can see it, based on a Department of Environmental Health inspection score. Operating without the posted card is unlawful and can trigger legal action.
A.All permanent Food Facilities shall be inspected and graded uniformly using an official inspection form... The letter "A" shall indicate a score of ninety (90) percent or higher... Grade "A" cards shall be printed in blue on high-impact white styrene plastic. 2.The letter "B" shall indicate a score of less than ninety (90) percent, but not less than eighty (80) percent... Grade "B" cards shall be printed in green... 3.The letter "C" shall indicate a score of less than eighty (80) percent... The food facility may also be ordered closed, with its permit being suspended or revoked by the enforcement officer. Grade "C" cards shall be printed in red... D.It shall be unlawful to operate a permanent Food Facility unless the grade card is in place as posted by the enforcement officer.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 84 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
" Facilities that only sell prepackaged food and do no food preparation are not required to post a card. 030, any facility graded B or C gets a reinspection within five working days, and if the second score still falls short of 90%, the county may pursue an administrative hearing to suspend or revoke the permit under Health and Safety Code Section 114405, issue a citation, or file civil or criminal proceedings; the enforcement officer can also order immediate closure under Health and Safety Code Section 114409 if the facility poses an immediate danger. 040 is separately prohibited.
Violations & Fines
Section 8.40.050 makes each day of a violation a separate offense: a first infraction runs $50 to $100, a second $100 to $200, and a third or later offense is a misdemeanor punishable by $500 to $1,000 and up to six months in county jail; a first or second offense can also be charged as a misdemeanor at the county's discretion. Section 8.40.070 adds a civil penalty of $50 to $250 per day for willful violations, on top of any criminal fine, and any violation is separately declared a public health nuisance abatable by the enforcement officer under Section 8.40.060.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if a Riverside County restaurant scores a C?
Can a Riverside County food facility hide its grade card?
What are the penalties for a food facility violation in Riverside County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Riverside County
California rules heatmap·Compare Riverside County to another location·View the California public health rules overview
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