11/3/2026
On October 6, 2026, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors approved several changes to the Community Events and Temporary Food Facility Program administered by the Environmental Health Division. These updates are intended to streamline the permitting process, provide greater flexibility for event organizers and food facility operators, and support community events throughout Ventura County.
The approved changes are outlined below:
- Community Event Definition: Effective immediately, the Environmental Health Division will resume evaluating events based on the definition of a “Community Event” established in Section 113755 of the California Health and Safety Code. A Community Event is defined as an event that is civic, political, public, or educational in nature, including state and county fairs, city festivals, circuses, and other public gathering events approved by the local enforcement agency.
- Acceptance of Temporary Mobile Food Facility Applications: The Division will now accept permit applications for Temporary Mobile Food Facilities (TMFFs), allowing Mobile Food Facilities that hold a current and valid health permit issued by a neighboring county to operate at a specific event in Ventura County, subject to applicable permitting requirements.
- Nonprofit Organization Fee Discount: Effective January 1, 2027, the Division will no longer be able to offer fee waivers due to increased program costs and services. In lieu of a fee waiver, the Division will offer a 25% discount on Community Event permitting fees for qualifying nonprofit charitable organizations. This discount may be applied to eligible community event organizers and Temporary Food Facility operators.
- Online Event Application Submittal: Beginning April 1, 2027, community event organizers hosting events with five or fewer Temporary Food Facilities will have the option to submit their event applications online.
To help event organizers, food facility operators, and other interested stakeholders better understand these changes, the Environmental Health Division will host an informational webinar on Wednesday, December 2, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. The webinar will provide an overview of the program updates and an opportunity to ask questions.
We appreciate the continued collaboration and partnership of our community event organizers and food facility operators as we implement these changes.
For additional information, please contact the Ventura County Environmental Health Division at (805) 654-2813 or visit the Division’s website at: https://rma.venturacounty.gov/divisions/environmental-health/temporary-food-facilities-at-community-events/