Public Health Permit/License Application – Los Angeles County, CA

The Public Health Permit/License Application is the two-page form of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH), Environmental Health Division, that a business completes to request a public health permit or license for a new business or a change of ownership.

Page 1 collects the date of application, the first date of operation, the business type, the business and ownership details, billing information and a signed terms statement. Page 2 gives the instructions, the list of additional documents, the submission and payment channels and an information security notice.

The form covers many business types, including Animal Keeper, Body Art, Cannabis, Food Facility, Hotel or Motel, Massage Establishment, Mobile Food Facility, Public Swimming Pool, Vending Machine and Waste Collector. A separate application is required for each business type. Types marked with a red asterisk (*) also require a supplemental application, which the Division publishes on its permit page at http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/eh/about/permit.htm.

By signing, the applicant agrees to inspections by the Division after the permit is issued. The terms state that a permit or license is not transferable and not refundable, except that refunds may be considered when funds are collected in excess, erroneously or as a double payment. The form's page 1 has an "Office Use Only" block that the applicant does not complete.

The owner of a business, or an authorized representative of the owner, completes this application when the business needs a Public Health Permit/License from the Environmental Health Division. The signer certifies being the owner or authorized representative.

• New businesses: you mark New Business and enter the first date of operation. New food facilities, body art facilities, public swimming pools, organized and children's camps and cannabis facilities go through plan check first, and the plan checker provides the application after plan approval.
• Businesses changing ownership: you mark Change of Ownership. The Division's page says the new owner schedules an inspection and gives the completed application to the inspector.
• Businesses with several business types: you submit one application for each business type.
• Businesses marked with a red asterisk (*): you also submit the supplemental application for that type.

Owner types on the form are Individual/Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, LP, LLP, Corporation and LLC. The Division's page lists other programs, such as community event temporary food facilities, that have their own application processes; this form does not replace those.

Submit the application when you open a new business or take over an existing one. The form asks for the date of application and the first date of operation, and the instructions say to enter the date your facility starts or started operation.

For new businesses that do not need construction approval, such as hotels, laundries, theaters and massage establishments, the Division's page says to contact the appropriate program and request an inspection before beginning operation. For new food facilities, body art facilities, public swimming pools, camps and cannabis facilities, the application is given to you by the plan checker once plans are approved and construction is finished, and you hand it in during the final construction inspection. For a change of ownership, you schedule an inspection and give the application to the inspector. The form sets no separate calendar deadline. It warns that a lapse in a current permit or license may result in closure of the facility.

The application, supporting documents and payment can be submitted in person, by mail or by email, as page 2 of the form states. The Division's page adds that new food, body art, pool, camp and cannabis applicants hand the form to the plan checker at the final construction inspection, and change-of-ownership applicants hand it to the inspector at the inspection.

• By mail: Department of Public Health, 5050 Commerce Drive, Baldwin Park, CA 91706. Make checks, cashier's checks or money orders payable to the County of Los Angeles.
• In person: Environmental Health offices throughout Los Angeles County accept payment Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, by cash (exact amount only), check, cashier's check or money order. Locations are at http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/eh/.
• By email: [email protected]. Do not email a copy of a driver's license or ID unless a Public Health team member first sent you an encrypted email with [SECURE] in the subject line; reply to that message with the attachments.
• Online payment: credit card, debit card or ECheck, with an additional convenience fee. Call (888) 700-9995, select your language, then Option 1, or write to the same email address.

A fee applies. The Division's page says not to send payment until you receive an invoice, and to include the detachable part of the invoice with your check. The amount is set on the county fee schedule, so ask the Permits and Licensing Program. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.