Temporary Food Establishment (TFE) Permits

What is a Temporary Food Establishment permit?

A temporary food establishment is defined as the service of food and/or beverage at a location for no more than fourteen (14) consecutive days in conjunction with a single event or celebration. A temporary food establishment includes any booth at a temporary event that stores, prepares, packages, serves, or vends packaged food requiring time and/or temperature control and/or open-container drinks, including ice.           

Temporary Food Establishments may include but are not limited to:

• Traveling fairs
• Carnivals/Circuses
• Multicultural celebrations
• Special interest fundraisers
• Restaurant food shows
• Festivals
• "Pop-up" - denoting a store or other business that opens in a temporary location and is intended to operate for only a short period of time (i.e. less than a day), preparing food and/or open beverage. 
• Other gatherings

If you can answer “Yes” to any of the following questions you will need to obtain a temporary food event permit.

1. Is the event open to the general public to attend?
2. Can a person other than a member of the organization and their family members or invited guest attend?
3. Have you advertised the event (i.e. social media, website, newspaper/radio broadcasting) or sold tickets to the general public?
4. Are you serving open food, open-container drink (mixed drinks w/ ice, wine or keg beer) or food that requires refrigeration or to be held hot?  
5. Are you providing samples of food at an event? 
6. Are you preparing or offering food outside your addressed permitted facility? 

If you answered yes to any of these questions, please follow the information below to apply for a Temporary Food Event permit.

To operate a Temporary Food Establishment, the following information should be reviewed and completed as necessary:

• A completed temporary health permit application and required fees are to be submitted no less than 10-days before an event. If submitted less than 10 days but no more than 3-days in advance, a $20 late fee applies. 
• For applications submitted less than 3-days in advance, a $50 expedited fee applies. 
• No Temporary Health Permits will not be issued day of event.
• If you are preparing any TCS foods (foods that require time/temperature control for safety), a copy of your food handler's certification must accompany the temporary health permit application.

Required Fees: If you are recognized as a non-profit organization, no fees are required.

• $50.00 per event; valid for up to 14 days
• $200.00 per year; valid January 1 through December 31. This permit is not to be used for more than once a month.
• $20.00 late fee; applicable when making application fewer than 10 days before the event.
• $50.00 expedited fee; applicable when submitting application with 3 days until event.

How do I apply for for a temporary health permit?

• Apply online; or
• Use the following link to download and apply: Application for Temporary Health Permit 

Receipt of application is not an issued permit. You will receive correspondence from our department.*

Additional Resources & Forms:

• Temporary Food Establishment Requirements
• Temporary Health Permit Checklist 

Other permits may be necessary for Temporary Events within city limits, please inquire through City of Fredericksburg Development Services.