Requirements for Temporary Food Establishments

  • No ill employees
  • Certified food handler and copy of their certificate on site
  • Potable (drinkable) water for hand washing and food prep (see picture below)
  • Employees must wash hands at appropriate intervals
  • Adequate insect and rodent control
  • A trash receptacle must be provided
  • Employees wearing hats, hair nets, or visors
  • Chemicals stored separately from the food and single service items
  • Adequate facilities and equipment to maintain food temperatures
  • No bare hand contact with ready-to-eat food; gloves, utensils, deli tissue, tongs, etc. must be used
  • Hand washing station should be equipped with soap and paper towels
  • Catch basin provided to hold hand washing wastewater until the water is disposed into sanitary sewer system (do not discharge the waste into storm sewers or on the ground)
  • Food from approved sources (no home-prepared foods can be used or offered to the public)
  • Potable water hoses are of food grade quality and incoming sources of water must have back-siphonage preventers installed
  • Thermometer for checking food temperatures (potentially hazardous foods must be held below 41˚ F or above 135˚ F)
  • A three-compartment sink supplied with potable water is washing and sanitizing food equipment on-site (see picture below)
  • Sanitizer such as chlorine (bleach) or quaternary ammonia to sanitize all food contact surfaces. Proper sanitizing concentrations: chlorine 50-200 ppm* and quaternary ammonia 200 ppm* (*or as otherwise indicated by the Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] or by the manufacturer of the product)
  • Chemical test strips to test concentration of sanitizers
  • Employees not permitted to smoke or eat in food prep areas (drinks must be from a closed beverage container)
  • Foods, utensils, and all single-service items must be stored at least six inches off the floor or ground
  • Do not store food or other items in ice that is to be used for human consumption

Proper Hand Wash Station

Proper Hand Wash Station

Proper Temporary Dish Washing Station

Proper Temporary Dish Washing Station