GRADING AND POSTING REQUIREMENTS FOR RETAIL FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS

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

Cities that have adopted ordinance 97-0071

POSTING REQUIREMENTS

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
• Public Notification
• Notice of Closure

GRADE/SCORE CARDS

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

• A a score of 90-100%
• B a score of 80-89%
• C a score of 70-79%

An establishment 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 establishments that have a critical violation are subject to closure regardless of the score received on the inspection report. Food establishments that score below seventy percent (70%) twice within a twelve (12) month period are subject to closure and prosecution.

PUBLIC NOTIFICATION

The public notification sign provides the address and phone number for the local Environmental Health office. The sign states: "All public health questions/concerns regarding this food establishment should be directed to the local Environmental Health office." The sign must remain posted at all times.

NOTICE OF CLOSURE

A notice of closure sign is posted by the inspector after a food establishment has been ordered 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 establishment is reopened by the inspector.

Food establishments must maintain the routine inspection report(s) and all subsequent reports at the establishment until the next routine inspection report is issued. The inspection report(s) must be available for review by the public if requested.

For questions/complaints, contact Environmental Health at (888) 700-9995