Environmental Health
Home > Services > Environmental Health > Temporary Restaurant License
What is a temporary restaurant?
A temporary restaurant is any establishment operating temporarily in connection with any event where food is prepared or served for consumption by the public. Examples of events include fairs, carnivals, circuses, festivals, concerts, farmers markets, or any other public gathering. To operating a temporary restaurant, you must obtain a temporary restaurant license from the county where the event will be held.
There are three types of temporary restaurants.
Single-Event Temporary Restaurant is a food operation at a specific location in connection with a single public event. The location must remain the same and the menu is not altered. The license is valid for the length of the event up to 30 days, whichever comes first.
Intermittent Temporary Restaurant is a food operation at a specific location in connection with multiple public events having different oversight organizations Examples are the Rose Festival and Blues Festival. The location must remain the same and the menu is not altered. The license expires after 30 days.
Seasonal Temporary Restaurant is a food operation at a specific location in connection to an event arranged by one oversight organization. Examples are Farmers Market or Little League. The location remains the same and menu is not altered. The license expires after 90 days.
Applications and Guide
Temporary Restaurant Application
Operational Plan Review Application
Temporary Restaurant Operation Guide
Oregon law requires that all food booths or food service activities open to the public be licensed PRIOR to operation. An Operation Plan Review is required before an Intermittent or Seasonal Temporary Restaurant License is issued.
All foods must be prepared on-site or purchased from an approved source. Home-prepared foods may NOT be served to the public.
Who should get a temporary restaurant license?
Individuals or groups planning to provide food at an event must first obtain a temporary restaurant license. The Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS 624.025) require each food booth in operation during an event to have its own separate license. A license is only valid for the specific event, and must be conspicuously posted. The license is valid for the length of the event or up to 30 days, whichever comes first.
A tax-exempt, non-profit benevolent organization (501)(c)(3) is not charged a license fee and must have a separate license for each booth in operation during an event.
Related Pages
About CHD
Contact CHD
Environmental Health
