Grading and Posting Requirements for Retail Food Facilities

This page is to inform you of the requirements for retail food facilities including restaurants, markets, bakeries, and bars located within the unincorporated portions of Los Angeles County and the cities that have adopted County Ordinance 97-0071.

City Adoption Date Effective Date
Agoura Hills 07-29-1998 08-29-1998
Alhambra 08-11-1998 09-11-1998
Arcadia 02-18-2003 03-21-2003
Artesia 07-27-1998 08-27-1998
Avalon No
Azusa 04-05-2004 05-05-2004
Baldwin Park 01-17-2001 02-17-2001
Bell 03-16-1998 04-17-1998
Bell Gardens 09-28-1998 10-28-1998
Bellflower 09-11-2000 10-11-2000
Beverly Hills 09-19-2000 10-20-2000
Bradbury No
Burbank 09-26-2000 11-04-2000
Calabasas 06-03-1998 07-03-1998
Carson 08-05-1998 09-05-1998
Cerritos 04-09-1998 05-09-1998
City of Commerce 09-02-1998 10-02-1998
City of Industry 06-05-2005 10-11-2005
Claremont 02-13-2001 03-29-2001
Commerce 01-16-1998 01-06-1998
Compton 06-25-2002 07-25-2002
Covina 05-19-1998 06-19-1998
Cudahy 04-07-1998 05-07-1998
Culver City 04-15-2002 05-15-2002
Diamond Bar 08-18-1998 09-18-1998
Downey 09-08-1998 10-09-1998
Duarte 09-11-2007 10-11-2007
El Monte 05-12-1998 06-12-1998
El Segundo 11-04-1998 12-04-1998
Gardena 05-26-1998 06-26-1998
Glendale 03-10-1998 03-24-1998
Glendora 06-26-2001 07-26-2001
Hawaiian Gardens 03-10-1998 04-10-1998
Hawthorne 08-17-2000 08-17-2000
Hermosa Beach 05-09-2000 06-09-2000
Hidden Hills No
Huntington Park 04-21-1998 05-21-1998
Industry 05-12-2005  
Inglewood 04-10-2001 04-10-2001
Irwindale 09-28-2000 10-30-2000
La Canada/Flintridge 12-15-1998 01-15-1999
La Habra Heights NO  
La Mirada 09-08-1998 10-08-1998
La Puente 03-24-1998 04-24-1998
La Verne 03-16-1998 04-16-1998
Lakewood 11-10-1998 12-08-1998
Lancaster 02-24-1998 04-10-1998
Lawndale 12-03-2001 01-02-2002
Lomita 08-07-2000 09-07-2000
Los Angeles 02-17-1998 04-03-1998
Lynwood 03-27-1998 04-27-1998
Malibu 06-08-1998 07-08-1998
Manhattan Beach 09-15-1998 10-15-1998
Maywood 06-23-1998 07-23-1998
Monrovia 06-01-2004 07-01-2004
Montebello 03-23-2005 04-23-2005
Monterey Park 05-09-1999 06-05-1999
Norwalk 03-17-1998 04-17-1998
Palmdale 06-25-1998 07-25-1998
Palos Verdes Estates 09-22-1998 10-22-1998
Paramount 01-05-1999 02-04-1999
Pico Rivera 09-21-1998 10-21-1998
Pomona 09-21-1998 10-21-1998
Rancho Palos Verdes 09-15-1998 10-15-1998
Redondo Beach 01-06-2004 02-05-2004
Rolling Hills Estates 07-28-1998 08-28-1998
Rosemead 02-24-1998 03-26-1998
San Dimas 03-24-1998 04-24-1998
San Fernando 05-18-1998 06-18-1998
San Gabriel 10-06-1998 11-20-1998
San Marino No
Santa Clarita 03-24-1998 04-24-1998
Santa Monica 05-20-1998 07-01-1998
Santa Fe Springs 08-27-1998 09-27-1998
Sierra Madre No
Signal Hill No
South El Monte 04-28-1998 05-28-1998
South Gate 07-27-1999 08-27-1999
South Pasadena 05-03-2000 07-01-2000
Temple City 02-04-1998 03-04-1998
Torrance 04-22-2003 05-22-2003
Walnut 04-08-1998 05-08-1998
Westlake Village 09-23-1998 10-23-1998
West Covina 09-15-1998 10-15-1998
West Hollywood 05-07-2001 06-07-2001
Whittier 07-14-1998 08-14-1998

The following placards are provided by Environmental Health and must be posted in an area clearly visible to patrons/public, as determined by the inspector:

  • Grade/Score Cards
  • Notice of Closure

Each food inspection begins with 100 points. As a health inspector conducts an inspection, the appropriate sub-categories in the Critical Risk Factors and the Good Retail Practices Section on the Retail Food Official Inspection Report (FOIR) will be marked. The sub-categories have been assigned a specific point value based on the associated public health risk of the violation. This point value is deducted from the 100 points. (Refer to the Reference Guide for the Food Official Inspection Report for more detailed explanations of these sections.)

Beginning of the Inspection 100 points
Total Points Deducted -_________
Remaining Points Grade or Score

A grade (A, B, C) or score card will be issued to each facility at the end of all routine inspections. The card issued will be based upon the score received on the Retail Food Official Inspection Report. The grading is calculated as follows:

Points Grade/Score Descriptions
90 to 100 points A Generally superior in food handling practices and overall food facility maintenance.
80 to 89 points B Generally good in food handling practices and overall food facility maintenance.
70 to 79 points C Generally acceptable in food handling practices and overall general food facility maintenance.
0 to 69 points Score Poor in food handling practices and overall general food facility maintenance.

A facility receiving a score less than seventy percent (70%) will be issued a score card and not a grade card. The score card will indicate the actual score received.

The grade/score cards must remain posted until the next routine inspection, at which time the inspector will issue a new grade/score card.

All food facilities that have a critical violation may be subject to closure regardless of the score received on the inspection report. Food facilities that score below seventy percent (70%) twice within a twelve (12) month period are subject to closure and further legal action.

Notice of Closure

A notice of closure sign is posted by the inspector after a food facility has been directed closed. The sign will be posted on the entrance door and will state the reason(s) for closure. The sign must remain posted until the facility is reopened by the inspector.

Availability of Inspection Report(s)

A copy of the most recent inspection report(s) must be available for review by the public if requested.

Report a Problem

If you visit a restaurant or retail food market without a proper public health permit or experience unsanitary conditions or to report code violations in Los Angeles County, you may report this issue by calling the Environmental Health Hotline at (888) 700-9995.

If you observe code violations or would like to file a complaint, you may report this issue by Filing a Complaint Online.

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