City to Host Health Permit Workshop for Mobile Food Vendors and Food Truck Operators

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PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA - The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) will host a workshop on Tuesday, Dec. 13, for mobile food vendors, including street food vendors and food truck operators. The workshop will provide information about obtaining a Long Beach Health Permit as well as upcoming changes to the California Retail Food Code.

"Food trucks and vendors are an important part of our community's cultural fabric," said Mayor Robert Garcia. "The mobile food vendor workshop will help business owners learn how to operate safely and legally in Long Beach."

The Health Permit Workshop will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 13, at Admiral Kidd Park (2125 Santa Fe Ave.). People can RSVP by calling 562.570.4132 or emailing [email protected]. RSVP is appreciated, but not required. Spanish, Khmer and Tagalog interpreters will be on site during the workshop.

The workshop will cover the Health Permit application process and provide an overview of Senate Bill (SB972) and Senate Bill (SB946), both of which lower barriers to operation for mobile food vendors. SB972 will take effect on Jan. 1, 2023.

The Health Department is committed to assisting all food-based businesses that wish to operate in the city and is conducting extensive outreach regarding the upcoming workshop. Employees from the Environmental Health Bureau, which oversees Health Permits, will distribute hundreds of flyers over the coming weeks to mobile food vendors inviting them to the event. The flyers will be available in English, Spanish, Khmer and Tagalog. Additionally, the workshop will be heavily promoted on the Health Department's social media channels. People who attend the workshop will receive a 10% discount on their first Health Permit.

"We want food-based businesses to succeed in Long Beach, and we also want the people who patronize these businesses to be safe from foodborne illness," said Judeth Luong, Environmental Health Bureau Manager. "We know obtaining a Health Permit can seem challenging, especially for small business owners, and this workshop will help ease the process for our food sidewalk vendors."

In addition to the presentation, food vendors will be able to ask questions at the workshop. Those who cannot attend, or who have questions in advance of the workshop, can call 562.570.4132 or email [email protected] for assistance.

Additionally, the City is currently gathering information and input to help inform the development of a sidewalk vending ordinance in Long Beach. The community survey is available now through Dec. 18.

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