A caterer is any person (or entity) who supplies food and beverages and/or related services to any off premise public or private function. Caterers are required to obtain a permit to operate from the San Francisco Department of Public Health. A Health Permit issued to a caterer is location specific and cannot be transferred to another kitchen/catering facility. Additional application fees may apply when changing commissary/catering facilites.

Obtaining a Permit

Caterers shall verify if their kitchen/commissary is listed on the Approved catering facility/kitchen list containing facilities previously approved by the Planning Department. This is very important. If you choose to go in a location that is not on this list, you must submit and pay for a Planning/Zoning referral with your application.
Caterer must obtain Business Registration here and upload with application. It is important that your business address is the address of the Catering Facility/Commissary you are working out of and that BOTH the SFDPH application address and Business Registration address match.
Caterers will be required to upload a completed Commissary/Catering Facility/Permitted Kitchen Verification (completed by the owner of the catering facility and caterer).
Caterers must also submit/upload the following:

Copy of caterer’s Certified Food Safety Certificate.
Copy of Catering Menu.
Floor plan of Commissary/Catering facility: indicate all equipment, sinks, and storage spaces.
Standard Operation Plan (SOP): brief description of food safety practices in regards to the cooking, cooling, holding, reheating, sanitizing, and transportation to events.

Start Application process HERE.

Sign the Form Electronically.

Pay the Application fee (if applicable).

More information about Catering can be found at the Caterer Application Process and Guidelines.

More information about Pop-up permits can be found here.

**Important** The Catering Health Permit is location specific and cannot be transferred to another kitchen without submitting a new application and obtaining approval from the Health Department. An application fee will apply for a transfer of a commissary/catering facility location.

Making a Complaint

If you would like to make a complaint, you may call 311.

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San Francisco Health Code:

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Related Programs

Program Contact

Food Safety Program: Caterer Permits

Obtaining a Permit

Making a Complaint