BECOME A LICENSED COMPACT MOBILE FOOD VENDOR

Application process CLOSED on June 30

Part 1 - Meeting Established Criteria

You must ensure that you can answer “yes” to the three following eligibility criteria to successfully qualify:

• Do you live in Yolo County? Can you provide a utility bill, driver’s license or other proof document with your name? YES/NO

• Do you make less (before deductions for taxes) than the amounts listed below? YES/NO

• Are you a new food vendor business applicant who is completing all permitting and licensing processes for the first time? YES/NO

Part 2 - Gathering Required Attachments

 Please gather and complete the following documents. *Expired documents will not be accepted*

*No payment is requested with this application*

• DOC A. Filled Road to Licensure Pilot Program Application Packet: You may decide to apply for one or both available Road to Licensure Pilot Program benefits:
  • Fee Waiver Application
  • CMFO Equipment Grant Application & Agreement

     

• DOC B. Proof of Yolo County Residency- A utility bill, driver’s license or other proof document with the business owner name.

• DOC C. Food Service Establishment Application: This 1-page form linked here for your convenience. Please check the box for either:
  • Compact Mobile Food Operation High Risk (typically using uncooked meats, elaborate meals that involve intensive food handling)
  • Compact Mobile Food Operation Low Risk (typically non-meat ingredients, involving minimal food preparation).

• DOC D. Food Handler Certification Card: This can be acquired by taking a $10 online course offered by ServSafe linked here. Participants can select to take the course in English, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Korean or Vietnamese. This course can be reasonably completed in one hour. Other providers may offer the required course, though ServSafe is a reputable organization most often recommended.

• DOC E. Filled CMFO Proposal Questionnaire Form: This form linked here is for you to share your mobile food business idea ahead of investing on equipment.

• DOC F. Food Facility Plan Review Form: This form linked here is for you to fill out ahead of purchasing any equipment. Please provide an Approved Model Plan by a Manufacturer Representative that can attest that the CMFO model has been built to a standard plan by an approving jurisdiction (most efficient). OR, “Build your own” new, custom built CMFO to support the menu of the operation, following the Food Facility Plan Review Form guidelines.

To view a Model Plan/Standard Plan for CMFO equipment, we recommend viewing LA County's list of recommended vendors for a speedier process, Mobile Food Facility Manufacturers.

If you are building your own, LA County also has additional resources to explain structural requirements and examples of CMFO Plans/Diagrams here.

Please contact Environmental Health for any questions on this step.

Part 3 - Submitting the Road to Licensure Pilot Program Application Packet

• You may write an email to CMFO@YoloCounty.gov or alternatively call the numbers below to speak with someone and ask questions to a staff member: 

Part 4 - Road to Licensure Pilot Program Approval and Final Steps

1. Yolo County Environmental Health staff and Yolo County Administration Office staff will review each application individually and provide follow up recommendations or approvals within 1 week of your application submission.

2. After all applications are approved, the applicant will need to comply with all terms, conditions, and follow-up procedures established by Environmental Health and the City of Woodland.

A. Road to Licensure Pilot Program application approval does grant access to the Fee Waiver and CMFO Equipment Grant benefit opportunities.

B. Road to Licensure Pilot Program application approval does not grant access to begin business operations.

3. Applicants approved for the Road to Licensure Pilot Program benefits will need to complete all existing future processes associated with lawful business operations. 

A. After Road to Licensure Pilot Program application approval, applicants who apply to the Fee Waiver opportunity will automatically benefit from waived fees associated with Yolo County, Environmental Health procedures.

B. After Road to Licensure Pilot Program application approval, applicants may move forward with the planned investment of CMFO equipment as specifically described in the Food Establishment Plan Review (Doc D). 

C. After receiving the equipment, all applicants must undergo an in-person review of the equipment, provide a commissary agreement, and receive a site evaluation to receive the necessary Yolo County, Environmental Health certifications before beginning business operations.

D. Upon receipt of final Environmental Health certifications, the County Administrator's Office will administer the CMFO Equipment Grant reimbursement funding to the applicant. 

4. The City of Woodland will have additional requirements and processes related to Compact Mobile Food Vending practices and business licensing that must be completed before beginning business operations. 

Road to Licensure Informational Slides