Agriculture Program

Direct Phone (415)252-3830 Fax: (415)252-3818

The Agricultural Program protects health and safety by enforcing agricultural laws and regulations. The County Agriculture Commissioner has statutory authority to levy administrative fines for violations of these laws and regulations. Trained agricultural biologists of the agriculture program monitor pest conditions in agricultural and horticultural settings in San Francisco, including wholesale nurseries. Staff inspects plant material shipped to San Francisco through the postal, express and freight systems. Furthermore, we inspect plant products for export to a wide variety of foreign ports and issues export certificates required by importing countries. This work prevents the introduction of exotic pests harmful to California agriculture.

Our Agriculture Program also manages the orderly burning of agricultural crop residues to minimize the impact on urban areas, and works with producers to find alternative methods of agricultural waste removal. Finally, we administer the hazardous material storage inventory and carry out inspections of those facilities related to agricultural operations.

The Program compiles crop statistics and publishes the annual San Francisco County Agricultural Crop Report for use by governmental agencies, the agricultural industry and other interested parties. This report is given to the California Department of Food and Agriculture. For copies of report please call: 252-3830 or use link immediately above.

Description of Agricultural Services

1. Print and fill out the following application forms:

1. Application for a Permit to Operate or Certificate of Sanitation (pdf)
2. Health Permit Application Zoning Referral Form (pdf)
3. Fire Marshal Referral Form (pdf)

2. Send above three applications with a check for specific type:

• For Food Establishment: Fee Schedule of Licenses, Permits, Fines & Service Charges
• For Farmers Market: Fee Schedule of Licenses, Permits, Fines & Service Charges
• For Certified Farmers Market: Fee Schedule of Licenses, Permits, Fines & Service Charges

Make check payable to "San Francisco Department of Public Health" and send to:

Department of Public Health
Environmental Health Section
1390 Market Street, Ste 210
San Francisco, CA 94102

NOTE: Make sure that all applicants sign the applications: if partnership, all partners must sign; if corporation, authorized officer must sign.

3. Fill out  Referral Inspection Request for a Fire Department Inspection Application (pdf)  and send it to the San Francisco Fire Department.

The address is included on the application.

Once we receive the applications with the payment, a Health Inspector for the district where your establishment is located, will call you to set up an appointment.

The "Permit to Operate" will be issued by us upon:

• The successful conclusion of our final inspection
• The Tax Collector's confirmation that fees have been paid, and
• The Building, Planning and Fire Departments' (if they were involved) approvals.

The Permit will be mailed or given to the operator. It must be placed along with the Tax collector's License Certificate where it can be easily seen by the public.