Start a food business in California
How to open a restaurant in Mendocino County
Sources checked October 2, 2026. Informational only, not legal advice.
Who inspects
Who inspects
in Mendocino County.
Mendocino County Public Health, Environmental Health (Consumer Protection)
Phone (707) 234-6625. Its food page
What's different in Mendocino County
Nothing local beyond California law that we could confirm. Everything below is the state's rule, and Mendocino County Public Health, Environmental Health (Consumer Protection) is who to ask.
The main list
Open a restaurant,
step by step.
In order. Do them top to bottom.
- Get your plans approved before you build or remodel
California law: plans go to the county or city first, and work starts only after they approve them.
Who: Mendocino County Public Health, Environmental Health (Consumer Protection). Confirm with Mendocino County Public Health, Environmental Health (Consumer Protection), (707) 234-6625. Phone (707) 234-6625.
Bring: Plans drawn to scale; Equipment and finish specifications.
When: Before you build or remodel.
Source: HSC 114380(a)
- Get a seller's permit from CDTFA (free)
You sell food and drinks, so the state tax agency needs to know you. The permit costs nothing.
Who: California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA). Phone 1-800-400-7115.
Source: CDTFA Publication 73
- Get your city or county business license
Cities license businesses inside city limits; the county does in unincorporated areas. We haven't read your city's rule.
Confirm with your city hall (or the county, outside city limits). Phone (707) 234-6625.
- Get your health permit
California law: a food business can't open without a valid health permit from the county or city.
Who: Mendocino County Public Health, Environmental Health (Consumer Protection). Email enviroh@mendocinocounty.gov. Its page.
When: Before you open.
Source: HSC 114381(a)
- Fire and building sign-off
Cooking hoods, fire extinguishers and occupancy are your fire marshal's and building department's. We haven't read your city's rule.
Confirm with your city hall (or the county, outside city limits). Phone (707) 234-6625.
- If you'll serve alcohol: an ABC license, and RBS training for servers
Alcohol needs a license from the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (for a restaurant, often type 41 or 47). Every server and their manager is RBS-certified within 60 days of starting.
Who: California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), your district office.
- Your opening inspection
The county or city inspects before (or right after) the permit. Ask them how to book it.
Confirm with Mendocino County Public Health, Environmental Health (Consumer Protection). Phone (707) 234-6625.
- Get a certified food protection manager
California law: at least one owner or employee is certified. A new place has 60 days; the certificate lasts 5 years.
Who: An ANSI-accredited food protection manager exam.
When: Within 60 days.
Source: HSC 113947.1, 113947.3
- Put up the required signs
California law: the permit where customers see it, a handwashing sign at every hand sink, a notice that your latest inspection report is here, and "No smoking" at each entrance.
Who: You.
Source: HSC 114381(e), 113953.5, 113725.1; Labor Code 6404.5
- Post the Prop 65 food warning (10 or more employees)
California law: a business with 10 or more employees warns customers about chemicals in some foods. Use an 8½ × 11 sign at each entrance, a 5 × 5 sign at each register, or the warning on your menu. Serving alcohol adds the alcohol warning.
Who: You.
- Food handler cards for your team
California law: each food handler gets a California Food Handler Card within 30 days of starting. You pay for the course and the time.
Who: An ANSI-accredited food handler course.
When: Within 30 days.
Source: HSC 113948(a); SB 476
Get this checklist as a PDF
Print it, tick off each step and bring it to Mendocino County Public Health, Environmental Health (Consumer Protection): who to call, what to bring and when, on paper.
Coffee shop or café
Open a coffee shop,
step by step.
- Get your plans approved before you build or remodel
California law: plans go to the county or city first, and work starts only after they approve them.
Who: Mendocino County Public Health, Environmental Health (Consumer Protection). Confirm with Mendocino County Public Health, Environmental Health (Consumer Protection), (707) 234-6625. Phone (707) 234-6625.
Bring: Plans drawn to scale; Equipment and finish specifications.
When: Before you build or remodel.
Source: HSC 114380(a)
- Get a seller's permit from CDTFA (free)
You sell food and drinks, so the state tax agency needs to know you. The permit costs nothing.
Who: California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA). Phone 1-800-400-7115.
Source: CDTFA Publication 73
- Get your city or county business license
Cities license businesses inside city limits; the county does in unincorporated areas. We haven't read your city's rule.
Confirm with your city hall (or the county, outside city limits). Phone (707) 234-6625.
- Get your health permit
California law: a food business can't open without a valid health permit from the county or city.
Who: Mendocino County Public Health, Environmental Health (Consumer Protection). Email enviroh@mendocinocounty.gov. Its page.
When: Before you open.
Source: HSC 114381(a)
- Fire and building sign-off
Cooking hoods, fire extinguishers and occupancy are your fire marshal's and building department's. We haven't read your city's rule.
Confirm with your city hall (or the county, outside city limits). Phone (707) 234-6625.
- If you'll serve alcohol: an ABC license, and RBS training for servers
Alcohol needs a license from the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (for a restaurant, often type 41 or 47). Every server and their manager is RBS-certified within 60 days of starting.
Who: California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), your district office.
- Your opening inspection
The county or city inspects before (or right after) the permit. Ask them how to book it.
Confirm with Mendocino County Public Health, Environmental Health (Consumer Protection). Phone (707) 234-6625.
- Get a certified food protection manager
California law: at least one owner or employee is certified. A new place has 60 days; the certificate lasts 5 years.
Who: An ANSI-accredited food protection manager exam.
When: Within 60 days.
Source: HSC 113947.1, 113947.3
- Put up the required signs
California law: the permit where customers see it, a handwashing sign at every hand sink, a notice that your latest inspection report is here, and "No smoking" at each entrance.
Who: You.
Source: HSC 114381(e), 113953.5, 113725.1; Labor Code 6404.5
- Post the Prop 65 food warning (10 or more employees)
California law: a business with 10 or more employees warns customers about chemicals in some foods. Use an 8½ × 11 sign at each entrance, a 5 × 5 sign at each register, or the warning on your menu. Serving alcohol adds the alcohol warning.
Who: You.
- Food handler cards for your team
California law: each food handler gets a California Food Handler Card within 30 days of starting. You pay for the course and the time.
Who: An ANSI-accredited food handler course.
When: Within 30 days.
Source: HSC 113948(a); SB 476
Food truck or cart
Open a food truck,
step by step.
- Get your plans approved before you build or remodel
California law: plans go to the county or city first, and work starts only after they approve them.
Who: Mendocino County Public Health, Environmental Health (Consumer Protection). Confirm with Mendocino County Public Health, Environmental Health (Consumer Protection), (707) 234-6625. Phone (707) 234-6625.
Bring: Plans drawn to scale; Equipment and finish specifications.
When: Before you build or remodel.
Source: HSC 114380(a)
- Get a seller's permit from CDTFA (free)
You sell food and drinks, so the state tax agency needs to know you. The permit costs nothing.
Who: California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA). Phone 1-800-400-7115.
Source: CDTFA Publication 73
- Get your city or county business license
Cities license businesses inside city limits; the county does in unincorporated areas. We haven't read your city's rule.
Confirm with your city hall (or the county, outside city limits). Phone (707) 234-6625.
- Line up your commissary
California law: a food truck works out of a commissary or another approved place, and is cleaned and serviced there every day it runs.
Who: Mendocino County Public Health, Environmental Health (Consumer Protection). Confirm with Mendocino County Public Health, Environmental Health (Consumer Protection), (707) 234-6625. Phone (707) 234-6625.
Source: HSC 114295, 114297
- Get your mobile food facility permit
California law: no food business, truck included, opens without a valid permit from the county or city.
Who: Mendocino County Public Health, Environmental Health (Consumer Protection). Email enviroh@mendocinocounty.gov. Its page.
When: Before you open.
Source: HSC 114381(a)
- Fire and building sign-off
Cooking hoods, fire extinguishers and occupancy are your fire marshal's and building department's. We haven't read your city's rule.
Confirm with your city hall (or the county, outside city limits). Phone (707) 234-6625.
- Your opening inspection
The county or city inspects before (or right after) the permit. Ask them how to book it.
Confirm with Mendocino County Public Health, Environmental Health (Consumer Protection). Phone (707) 234-6625.
- Get a certified food protection manager
California law: at least one owner or employee is certified. A new place has 60 days; the certificate lasts 5 years.
Who: An ANSI-accredited food protection manager exam.
When: Within 60 days.
Source: HSC 113947.1, 113947.3
- Put up the required signs
California law: the permit where customers see it, a handwashing sign at every hand sink, a notice that your latest inspection report is here, and "No smoking" at each entrance.
Who: You.
Source: HSC 114381(e), 113953.5, 113725.1; Labor Code 6404.5
- Post the Prop 65 food warning (10 or more employees)
California law: a business with 10 or more employees warns customers about chemicals in some foods. Use an 8½ × 11 sign at each entrance, a 5 × 5 sign at each register, or the warning on your menu. Serving alcohol adds the alcohol warning.
Who: You.
- Food handler cards for your team
California law: each food handler gets a California Food Handler Card within 30 days of starting. You pay for the course and the time.
Who: An ANSI-accredited food handler course.
When: Within 30 days.
Source: HSC 113948(a); SB 476
Event booth
Open an event booth,
step by step.
- Get a seller's permit from CDTFA (free)
You sell food and drinks, so the state tax agency needs to know you. The permit costs nothing.
Who: California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA). Phone 1-800-400-7115.
Source: CDTFA Publication 73
- Get your city or county business license
Cities license businesses inside city limits; the county does in unincorporated areas. We haven't read your city's rule.
Confirm with your city hall (or the county, outside city limits). Phone (707) 234-6625.
- Get a temporary food facility permit for the event
California law: a booth at a community event (up to 25 days in any 90) needs a permit. Each county sets how far ahead to apply.
Who: Mendocino County Public Health, Environmental Health (Consumer Protection). Confirm with Mendocino County Public Health, Environmental Health (Consumer Protection), (707) 234-6625. Phone (707) 234-6625.
When: Before the event.
Source: HSC 113755, 114381
- Put up the required signs
California law: the permit where customers see it, a handwashing sign at every hand sink, a notice that your latest inspection report is here, and "No smoking" at each entrance.
Who: You.
Source: HSC 114381(e), 113953.5, 113725.1; Labor Code 6404.5
- Post the Prop 65 food warning (10 or more employees)
California law: a business with 10 or more employees warns customers about chemicals in some foods. Use an 8½ × 11 sign at each entrance, a 5 × 5 sign at each register, or the warning on your menu. Serving alcohol adds the alcohol warning.
Who: You.
- Food handler cards for your team
California law: each food handler gets a California Food Handler Card within 30 days of starting. You pay for the course and the time.
Who: An ANSI-accredited food handler course.
When: Within 30 days.
Source: HSC 113948(a); SB 476
Home kitchen (MEHKO)
Open a home kitchen (MEHKO),
step by step.
We couldn't confirm that Mendocino County Public Health, Environmental Health (Consumer Protection) permits home kitchens (MEHKO). A city or county must opt in by ordinance first: ask them at (707) 234-6625.
Cottage food
Start a cottage food business,
step by step.
- Register your cottage food operation (Class A) or get its permit (Class B)
A cottage food operation registers (Class A, direct sales) or gets a permit (Class B, also through stores and restaurants) with the local agency before it sells. Current yearly sales caps: 75,000 dollars for Class A, 150,000 dollars for Class B.
Who: Your county or city environmental health agency. No county page found; the state food program handles this.
- Get a seller's permit from CDTFA (free)
You sell food and drinks, so the state tax agency needs to know you. The permit costs nothing.
Who: California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA). Phone 1-800-400-7115.
Source: CDTFA Publication 73
- Get your city or county business license
Cities license businesses inside city limits; the county does in unincorporated areas. We haven't read your city's rule.
Confirm with your city hall (or the county, outside city limits). Phone (707) 234-6625.
County facts
Mendocino County
at a glance.
| Inspection scoring | No grade or placard found |
|---|---|
| Home kitchens (MEHKO) | Not confirmed. |
| Food handler card | California Food Handler Card, within 30 days of hire, valid 3 years (an ANSI-accredited course). |
| Prop 65 food warning | A Prop 65 food warning: an 8½ × 11 sign (28-point type) at each public entrance, OR a 5 × 5 sign (20-point) at each register, OR the warning on your menu. In English and any other language your signs or menu use. |
Sources checked . Informational only, not legal advice. Confirm with Mendocino County Public Health, Environmental Health (Consumer Protection) before you spend money.
Your binder is ready when the inspector is.
Pick your place. Start with one shift.
Start your 25 days free See it work
25 days free. Cancel anytime.
Questions? Call or text (415) 640-1667