National City Municipal Code Ch. 9.07 Food Caterers and Catering Equipment Rentals

Whenever in this article, the following terms are used, they shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section:

A. "Caterer" means a business, which prepares food for a catering function for events such as, but not limited to, picnics, weddings, banquets, parties, gatherings.

B. "Catering vehicle" means a vehicle upon which food; beverages and related service equipment are transported related to a catering function.

C. "Catering function" means any event where a caterer provides food for a person or persons at other than an existing health regulated establishment. A catering function shall not include those functions that are conducted by persons engaged or employed in youth organizations, churches, church societies, private clubs or other nonprofit associations of a religious, philanthropic, civic improvement, youth development, social, political, or educational nature which purchase food, food products, or beverages, for service without charge to their members or to the general public at fund-raising events, for consumption on or off the premises at which the food, food products, or beverages are served or sold, if the service or sale of such food, food products or beverages does not constitute a primary purpose or function of the club or association, and if no employee or member is assigned full-time to care for or operate equipment used in such an arrangement.

D. "Catering equipment rental establishment" means an establishment that provides food service utensils such as dishes, tableware, pots and pans to caterers or to the public but does not provide catering services.

E. "Department" means the San Diego Department of Environmental Health and Quality.

F. "Direct-sales catering" means any catering where food is sold or served to individual consumers as members of the public (i.e., all catering other than private event catering).

G. "Catering host facility" means a fixed facility established and regularly operated for purposes other than food service.

(Ord. No. 2024-2530, § 1, 5-7-2024)

The provisions of Division I, Title 6, of the San Diego County Code of Regulatory Ordinances and the California Retail Food Code (CRFC) relative to food handler training and the preparation and distribution of food are hereby made applicable to caterers and caterer operations.

(Ord. No. 2024-2530, § 1, 5-7-2024)

Persons operating as caterers and catering equipment rental establishments are considered to be operating a health-regulated establishment and are subject to public health permit requirements as specified in the San Diego County Code of Regulatory Ordinances. Such persons shall pay the permit fees prescribed for restaurants in Section 9.04.170 of this code and shall be subject to penalties for delinquent fee payment as set forth in Section 65.104 and 65.105 of the San Diego County Code of Regulatory Ordinances.

(Ord. No. 2024-2530, § 1, 5-7-2024)

When requested by the Director of Environmental Health of San Diego County, caterers shall notify the department of the time, date and location of each catering function in a manner specified by the department.

(Ord. No. 2024-2530, § 1, 5-7-2024)

All potentially hazardous foods as defined in Section 113871 of the California Retail Food Code that are stored, held, transported or served by a caterer must be protected from contamination and kept at temperatures as required by the California Retail Food Code.

(Ord. No. 2024-2530, § 1, 5-7-2024)

Adequate toilet and handwashing facilities, as determined by the deputy director of environmental health services, must be reasonably available in the vicinity of any location where food is prepared or served.

(Ord. No. 2024-2530, § 1, 5-7-2024)

No person or company shall operate or cause to be operated a catering vehicle without complying with the following:

A. Such person or company shall have a valid health permit as required by Section 61.104 of the San Diego County Code of Regulatory Ordinances.

B. Foods and food containers shall be carried in compartments with cleanable interior surfaces.

C. Vehicles shall be maintained in a clean condition.

(Ord. No. 2024-2530, § 1, 5-7-2024)

No person or company shall operate or cause to be operated, a catering equipment rental establishment without complying with the following:

A. All food service equipment shall be stored in a building that meets the requirements of the California Retail Food Code.

B. All food service equipment such as dishes, glasses, tableware, pots and pans shall be cleaned and sanitized by methods prescribed in the California Retail Food Code. 9.07.090 Direct-sales catering.

(Ord. No. 2024-2530, § 1, 5-7-2024)

No person or entity shall engage in direct sales catering without complying with the following:

A. Direct sales catering is only allowed at a permitted catering host facility that meets the requirements of Section 61.306 of the San Diego County Code of Regulatory Ordinances at the time the catered food is served.

B. Direct-sales catering food service may only occur at a permitted catering host facility that meets the requirements of Section 61.307 of the San Diego County Code of Regulatory Ordinances at the time the catered food is served.

C. All catering host facilities shall obtain appropriate permits as required by Section 61.303 of the San Diego County Code of Regulatory Ordinances.

D. No required parking spaces or access to the same shall be blocked or impeded in any way by direct sales catering activity.

E. A city business license shall be required for the entity engaged in direct-sales catering (separate from the licensed business premises).

F. No alcohol may be sold or served by any direct-sales caterer.

(Ord. No. 2024-2530, § 1, 5-7-2024)

No person or entity shall conduct satellite food service operations without complying with the following:

A. All satellite food service operations shall obtain appropriate permits as required by the California Retail Food Code and the Director of Environmental Health of San Diego County.

B. No required parking spaces or access to the same shall be blocked or impeded in any way by direct sales catering activity.

C. No alcohol may be sold or served by any satellite food service operations unless approved by a Conditional Use Permit.

(Ord. No. 2024-2530, § 1, 5-7-2024)