Earlier editions: 2026-07
Article V — Sanitation and Health
Lakewood Municipal Code Ch. 2 Public Health Code
Lakewood Municipal Code · 2026-10 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · Lakewood
Cite as: Lakewood Municipal Code Chapter 2 · Text as of 2026-10-04
§ 5200. Adoption of Public Health Code.¶
[Amended by Ord. 96-1; Ord. 2004-9]
Except as otherwise provided in this Chapter, the Los Angeles County Health Code, hereinafter referred to as "Health Code," known and designated as the Health Code of the County of Los Angeles, contained in Division 1 of Title 11 of the Los Angeles County Administrative Code consisting of Los Angeles County Ordinance 7583, as amended through Ordinance 2004-0036, all as printed and published by the County of Los Angeles as the Los Angeles County Health Code consisting of Los Angeles County Health Code Ordinances through 2004-36, and all of which on the 14th day of September, 2004, were made public records of the City of Lakewood by Resolution 2004-68 is hereby adopted and made a part hereof as if fully set out in this Chapter, with the amendments hereinafter set forth. The same shall hereafter constitute the Health Code of the City of Lakewood protecting and preserving the public health, safety and welfare by the enactment, inspection and enforcement of health regulations therein contained and providing for the issuance of permits and the collection of fees therefor, and providing penalties for the violation of said Health Code.
At least one copy of said Public Health Code shall be kept on file in the office of the City Clerk and shall be maintained by said City Clerk for use and examination by the public. In the event of any conflict or ambiguity between any provision contained in the Health Code and any other provisions of the Lakewood Municipal Code, the provisions of the Lakewood Municipal Code shall control. In the event of any conflict or ambiguity between the provisions contained in the Health Code and any amendment thereto or additions thereto contained in this Chapter, the amendments or additions thereto shall control.
§ 5201. Same; Definitions.¶
Whenever any of the following names or terms are used in the Health Code, such names or terms shall be deemed and construed to have the meaning ascribed to it in this section as follows:
UNINCORPORATED TERRITORY
Shall mean the City of Lakewood.
§ 5202. Same; Amendments and Effect.¶
[Amended by Ord. 2004-9]
In the event of any conflict or ambiguity between any provision contained in the Health Code and any other provision of this Chapter of the Lakewood Municipal Code, the provisions of this Chapter and the Lakewood Municipal Code shall control. Except for Los Angeles County Ordinances through Ordinance 2004-0036 making and comprising the Public Health Code of the County of Los Angeles, any reference to any County Ordinance or amendment thereto in the Health Code incorporated herein by reference, shall mean any City ordinance or other provision of the Lakewood Municipal Code on the same subject as the County Ordinance or amendment referred to in the Health Code on the same subject as the County Ordinance or amendment referred to in the Health Code, and the Lakewood Municipal Code or City ordinance shall control. If there is no City ordinance or Lakewood Municipal Code section on said subject matter, no County Ordinance shall be incorporated herein other than the Public Health Code of Los Angeles County aforementioned.
§ 5203. Letter Grade and Inspection System for Food Establishments.¶
[Added by Ord. 98-3]
The Public Health Code heretofore adopted by reference by Section 5200 is further amended to read as follows:
§ 5203.1. Food Official Inspection Report.¶
[Added by Ord. 98-3]
Section 8.04.165 is added to read as follows:
| Section 8.04.165 FOOD OFFICIAL INSPECTION REPORT. "Food Official Inspection Report" means the written notice prepared and issued by the county health officer after conducting an inspection of a food facility to determine compliance with all applicable federal, state and local statutes, orders, ordinances, quarantines, rules, regulations, or directives relating to the public health. |
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§ 5203.2. Grading and Letter Grade Card.¶
[Added by Ord. 98-3]
Section 8.04.225 is added to read as follows:
Section 8.04.225 GRADING & LETTER GRADE CARD.
| A. | "Grading" means the letter grade issued by the county health officer at the conclusion of the routine inspection of a food establishment. The grade shall be based upon the scoring method set forth in this section resulting from the Food Official Inspection Report and shall reflect the food establishment's degree of compliance with all applicable federal, state and local statutes, orders, ordinances, quarantines, rules, regulations, or directives relating to the public health. | "Grading" means the letter grade issued by the county health officer at the conclusion of the routine inspection of a food establishment. The grade shall be based upon the scoring method set forth in this section resulting from the Food Official Inspection Report and shall reflect the food establishment's degree of compliance with all applicable federal, state and local statutes, orders, ordinances, quarantines, rules, regulations, or directives relating to the public health. |
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| B. | "Letter Grade Card" means a card that may be posted by the county health officer at a food establishment upon completion of a routine inspection that indicates the letter grade of the establishment as determined by the county health officer using the scoring method set forth in this section. For the purposes of this provision, a food establishment shall include a food establishment operating in conjunction with a food-processing establishment. Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit the county health officer from creating and using a Letter Grade Card in combination with an Inspection Score Card. The county health officer, in his discretion, shall determine whether to post the Letter Grade Card, the Inspection Score Card, or both. | "Letter Grade Card" means a card that may be posted by the county health officer at a food establishment upon completion of a routine inspection that indicates the letter grade of the establishment as determined by the county health officer using the scoring method set forth in this section. For the purposes of this provision, a food establishment shall include a food establishment operating in conjunction with a food-processing establishment. Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit the county health officer from creating and using a Letter Grade Card in combination with an Inspection Score Card. The county health officer, in his discretion, shall determine whether to post the Letter Grade Card, the Inspection Score Card, or both. |
| C. | The county health officer, in his discretion, may immediately close any food establishment which, upon completion of the routine inspection, does not achieve a "C" grade as defined herein. Nothing in this provision shall prohibit the county health officer from immediately closing any food establishment if, in his discretion, immediate closure is necessary to protect the public health. | The county health officer, in his discretion, may immediately close any food establishment which, upon completion of the routine inspection, does not achieve a "C" grade as defined herein. Nothing in this provision shall prohibit the county health officer from immediately closing any food establishment if, in his discretion, immediate closure is necessary to protect the public health. |
| D. | The letter grade shall be based upon the final numerical percentage score set forth in the Food Official Inspection Report as follows: | The letter grade shall be based upon the final numerical percentage score set forth in the Food Official Inspection Report as follows: |
| 1. | A grade of "A" shall indicate a final score of ninety percent (90%) or higher as determined by the county health officer; | |
| 2. | A grade of "B" shall indicate a final score less than ninety percent (90) but not less than eight percent (80%) as determined by the county health officer; | |
| 3. | A grade of "C" shall indicate a final score less than eighty percent (80%) but not less than seventy percent (70%) as determined by the county health officer. |
§ 5203.3. Inspection Score Card.¶
[Added by Ord. 98-3]
Section 8.04.275 is added to read as follows:
Section 8.04.275 INSPECTION SCORE CARD.
| A. | "Inspection Score Card" means a card that may be posted by the county health officer at a food establishment, upon completion of a routine inspection, that indicates the total numerical percentage score for the establishment as determined by the county health officer and as set forth in the Food Official Inspection Report. For the purposes of this provision, a food establishment shall include a food establishment operating in conjunction with a food-processing establishment. Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit the county health officer from creating and using an Inspection Score Card in combination with a Letter Grade Card. The county health officer, in his discretion, shall determine whether to post the Inspection Score Card, the Letter Grade Card, or both. |
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| B. | The county health officer, in his discretion, may immediately close any food establishment which, upon completion of the routine inspection, achieves a total numerical percentage score less than seventy percent (70%) as set forth in Section 8.04.225. Nothing in this provision shall prohibit the county health officer from immediately closing any food establishment if, in his discretion, immediate closure is necessary to protect the public health. |
§ 5203.4. Notice of Closure.¶
[Added by Ord. 98-3]
Section 8.04.337 is added to read as follows:
| Section 8.04.337 NOTICE OF CLOSURE. "Notice of Closure" means a public notice that may be posted by the county health officer at a food establishment upon suspension or revocation of the establishment's public health permit and that results in the immediate closure of the establishment and the discontinuance of all operations of the food establishment, by order of the public health officer, because of violations of applicable federal, state and local statutes, orders, ordinances, quarantines, rules, regulations, or directives relating to the public health. |
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§ 5203.5. Routine Inspection.¶
[Added by Ord. 98-3]
Section 8.04.405 is added to read as follows:
| Section 8.04.405 ROUTINE INSPECTION. "Routine Inspection" means a periodic, unannounced inspection of any business or occupation specified in Section 8.04.720 to determine compliance with all applicable federal, state and local statutes, orders, ordinances, quarantines, rules, regulations, or directives relating to the public health. A Routine Inspection shall not mean an inspection conducted by the county health officer to determine compliance with a previously issued Food Official Inspection Report or any interim inspection conducted to determine compliance with specific regulations or legal requirements. |
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§ 5203.6. Posting Requirements; Penalty for Non-Compliance; Documents Available for…¶
[Added by Ord. 98-3]
Section 8.04.752 is added to read as follows:
Section 8.04.752 POSTING REQUIREMENTS — PENALTY FOR NON-COMPLIANCE — DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW.
| A. | Upon issuance by the county health officer, the health officer shall post at every food establishment the Letter Grade Card, the Inspection Score Card, or both, as determined by the county health officer, so as to be clearly visible to the general public and to patrons entering the establishment. "Clearly visible to the general public and to patrons" shall mean" | Upon issuance by the county health officer, the health officer shall post at every food establishment the Letter Grade Card, the Inspection Score Card, or both, as determined by the county health officer, so as to be clearly visible to the general public and to patrons entering the establishment. "Clearly visible to the general public and to patrons" shall mean" |
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| 1. | Posted in the front window of the establishment within five (5) feet of the front door. | |
| 2. | Posted in a display case mounted on the outside front wall of the establishment within five (5) feet of the front door; or | |
| 3. | Posted in a location as directed and determined in the discretion of the county health officer to ensure proper notice to the general public and to patrons. | |
| B. | In the event that a food establishment is operated in the same building or space as a separately licensed or permitted business, or in the event that a food establishment shares a common patron entrance with such a separately licensed or permitted business, or in the event of both, the county health officer shall post the Letter Grade Card, the Inspection Score Card, or both, in the initial patron contact area, or in a location as determined in the discretion of the county health officer. | In the event that a food establishment is operated in the same building or space as a separately licensed or permitted business, or in the event that a food establishment shares a common patron entrance with such a separately licensed or permitted business, or in the event of both, the county health officer shall post the Letter Grade Card, the Inspection Score Card, or both, in the initial patron contact area, or in a location as determined in the discretion of the county health officer. |
| C. | The Letter Grade Card and the Inspection Score Card shall not be defaced, marred, camouflaged, hidden or removed. It shall be unlawful to operate a food establishment unless the Letter Grade Card, the Inspection Score Card, or both, as determined by the county health officer, is or are in place as set forth hereunder. Removal of the Letter Grade Card, the Inspection Score Card, or both, is a violation of this chapter and may result in the suspension or revocation of the public health permit and shall be punishable as specified in Section 8.04.930. | The Letter Grade Card and the Inspection Score Card shall not be defaced, marred, camouflaged, hidden or removed. It shall be unlawful to operate a food establishment unless the Letter Grade Card, the Inspection Score Card, or both, as determined by the county health officer, is or are in place as set forth hereunder. Removal of the Letter Grade Card, the Inspection Score Card, or both, is a violation of this chapter and may result in the suspension or revocation of the public health permit and shall be punishable as specified in Section 8.04.930. |
| D. | Every food establishment shall post a legibly lettered sign which displays the following information so as to be clearly visible to the general public and to patrons entering the establishment: | Every food establishment shall post a legibly lettered sign which displays the following information so as to be clearly visible to the general public and to patrons entering the establishment: |
| "Any public health concerns regarding this establishment should be directed to the County of Los Angeles, Environmental Health office located at: (local office address and telephone number to be provided by the county health officer)." | ||
| E. | The Food Official Inspection Report upon which the Letter Grade Card, the Inspection Score Card, or both, are based and all subsequent reports issued by the county health officer shall be maintained at the food establishment and shall be available to the general public and to patrons for review upon request. The food establishment shall keep the Food Official Inspection Report and all subsequent reports until such time as the county health officer completes the next routine inspection of the establishment and issues a new Food Official Inspection Report. | The Food Official Inspection Report upon which the Letter Grade Card, the Inspection Score Card, or both, are based and all subsequent reports issued by the county health officer shall be maintained at the food establishment and shall be available to the general public and to patrons for review upon request. The food establishment shall keep the Food Official Inspection Report and all subsequent reports until such time as the county health officer completes the next routine inspection of the establishment and issues a new Food Official Inspection Report. |
§ 5203.7. Letter Grade Card and Inspection Score Card; Period of Validity.¶
[Added by Ord. 98-3]
Section 8.04.755 is added to read as follows:
| Section 8.04.755 LETTER GRADE CARD & INSPECTION SCORE CARD — PERIOD OF VALIDITY. A Letter Grade Card, an Inspection Score Card, or both, shall remain valid until the county health officer completes the next routine inspection of the food establishment. |
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§ 5203.8. Public Health Permit Suspension or Revocation; Notice of Closure.¶
[Added by Ord. 98-3]
Section 8.04.943 is added to read as follows:
Section 8.04.943 PUBLIC HEALTH PERMIT SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION — NOTICE OF CLOSURE.
| A. | Upon issuance of a written notice of suspension or revocation of the public health permit by the county health officer, the health officer shall post a Notice of Closure at the food establishment so as to be clearly visible to the general public and to patrons. |
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| B. | Upon issuance of the written notice of suspension or revocation of the public health permit by the county health officer, the food establishment shall immediately close to the general public and to patrons and shall discontinue all operations until the public health permit has been reissued or reinstated by order of the county health officer or until the establishment no longer operates as a food establishment. |
| C. | The Notice of Closure shall remain posted until removed by the county health officer. Removal of the Notice of Closure by any person other than the county health officer or the refusal of a food establishment to close upon issuance of the written notice of suspension of the public health permit is a violation of this chapter and may result in the suspension or revocation of the food establishment's public health permit and shall be punishable as specified in Section 8.04.930. |
§ 5203.9. Food Handler's Training Certification.¶
[Added by Ord. 98-3]
Chapter 11.11 is added to read as follows:
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