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Laws & Regulations

Environmental Health Services

San Mateo County Health is committed to protecting public health through the enforcement of local and state laws related to food safety and environmental health.

This section provides access to key regulations, including the California Retail Food Code, Sherman Food and Drug Law and other applicable ordinances. It also includes multilingual self-inspection checklists and specific guidance for unique facility types, such as bed and breakfasts, to help businesses remain in compliance and ensure safe practices throughout the community. View these regulations in the resource library below.

Edible Food Recovery

As of January 2022, large food generating entities such as supermarkets, grocery stores, food wholesalers and distributors, restaurants and others are required by state law (SB 1383) to hold a contract or written agreement with a food recovery organization, arranging for the recovery of their surplus food for redistribution to those in need in the community. Food recovery organizations are often nonprofit organizations with expertise in food handling and safety, an understanding of hunger and food insecurity in our communities and infrastructure to distribute food to those in need. Get more information about edible food recovery.

Disposable Food Service Ware Ordinance

The County of San Mateo and select cities within the County have adopted a Disposable Food Service Ware Ordinance.

The Ordinance requires:

  • Most disposable food service ware to be non-plastic and natural-fiber based compostable (a.k.a. made from paper, sugarcane, wood, bamboo, wheat stalk, hay, etc.).
  • Larger disposable food service ware to have little to no harmful fluorinated chemicals.
  • Regulated distribution of disposable food service ware accessories (e.g., smaller side items like straws, utensils, stirrers, napkins, condiment packets, etc.).

Additional information about the requirements of the Ordinance is available in the Summary Sheet below.

Get a list of jurisdictions in San Mateo County that have adopted the County’s model Ordinance and the corresponding Ordinance enforcement start dates.

Get available resources to help your food facility to meet the ordinance requirements.

Resource Library