2021-01-28 Update on Breweries and Wineries – Conditional Opening for Outdoor Dining

Effective January 28, 2021, breweries and wineries that are exempt from the definition of a "food facility" by California Health and Safety Code, Section 113789(c)(5), and possess a valid license type #1, 2, and/or 23 issued by the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control may open for outdoor dining operations.

These breweries and wineries may re-open to conduct outdoors dining operations, providing sit-down, bona fide meals prepared by a food facility, caterer, or food truck with a valid public health permit, or similarly permitted business that prepares and serves bona fide meals.

To open and start such an operation, the qualified brewery or winery must obtain a public health permit as a Host Facility if using a permitted food facility or caterer for the Catering Operation or obtain approval from the County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Division of a food truck agreement. Please see below for the requirements and process.

Host Facility

The following is the process for a qualified brewery, winery, or other approved facility to obtain a Host Facility Public Health Permit.

  1. Submit to the Environmental Health Division a completed Application for a Host Facility Site Evaluation with a check for $167, made payable to the County of Los Angeles. Be sure to include a note on your check as "Host Facility Site Evaluation" or an Invoice Number.
  2. The Environmental Health Division shall review the application and may request correction(s). Once the application is approved, the Division shall schedule a site evaluation to determine compliance with the facility requirements.
  3. If the site evaluation reveals compliance, the brewery or winery may submit a completed Public Health Permit Application and a Supplemental Application for review.
  4. If the review determines the public health permit application is approved, the Environmental Health Division shall issue a report with the approval to operate. A billing statement for your annual host facility permit fee will be mailed out to you once your applications are reviewed and approved. Make sure to make your payment no later than the indicated last day to pay date on the bill to receive your permit on time.
  5. The brewery or winery must comply with the Health Officer Order Reopening Safer at Work and In the Community for Control of COVID-19 Blueprint for a Safer Economy-Tier 1 Surge Response and Appendix I, Protocols for Restaurants, Breweries and Wineries .

Catering Operations

If the qualified brewery or winery plans to contract with a permitted food facility, such as a restaurant or caterer, the following are the requirements.

Food facilities that have been approved for off-site food service activities (i.e., catering operations) are required to submit their Catering Operation Standard Operating Procedures to ehmail@ph.lacounty.gov for approval by the Environmental Health Division and adhere to the requirements outlined in the California Health and Safety Code, Chapter 10.1 .

Please note: A catering operation may provide food service at a permitted Host Facility for up to four hours in any 12-hour period.

Food Truck

If planning to utilize an existing permitted food truck, the brewery or winery must submit a completed Brewery/Winery & Food Truck Agreement to ehmail@ph.lacounty.gov for approval by the Environmental Health Division. The agreement includes the following:

Please note: A Public Health Permit as Host Facility is not required for the brewery or winery with the food truck option. Additionally, the food truck may provide food service at a qualified brewery or winery for more than four hours.

Protocol Posting Requirements

As an option to posting protocols and County Re-Opening Safer at Work Health Officer Orders at public entrances, Los Angeles County is offering businesses an opportunity to self-certify that they are fully implementing the required COVID-19 protocols through the COVID-19 Safety Compliance Certificate Program. This process will help business owners follow the required protocols and maintain their operations with as much safety as possible for their staff, customers, and visitors. Also, posting this emblem at the front entrance will clearly demonstrate to their customers that their business is fully invested in complying with required protocols to keep them safe. The COVID-19 Compliance Certificate is not required, but it is recommended. The link below will provide further explanation and directions on how to obtain the Safety Compliance Certificate.

Please note that business owners must still:

For more information, please visit our COVID-19 Safety Compliance Certificate Program page.

Additional information on COVID-19 can be found on Los Angeles County Department of Public Health COVID-19 page.

All documents can be submitted to ehmail@ph.lacounty.gov.

For additional information, please contact the Industry Engagement Program at (626) 430-5320.