Depending on your setup and the food items you intend to serve, your establishment may be required to apply for a permit and receive approval from Spokane Regional Health District in order to operate. Contact the Food Safety Program at Foodsafetyprogram@srhd.org or 509.324.1560 ext. 2 at least 21 days prior to your event to find out if you will need a TFE permit for your booth. Applications for TFE permit must be submitted at least 14 days prior to the anticipated date of the event in order to avoid additional fees .See the Temporary Setup Checklist below for an overview of setup requirements and safety considerations.
Example handwashing station setup.
Food establishment operators may want to limit the type of foods served to Level 1 Menu Items to qualify for a lower TFE permit fee (see fee schedule). Menu items on the TFE Level 1 Menu Items list are considered lower risk and are less likely to make people sick from foodborne illnesses.
Some food items may be exempt from regulations. Other foods may be exempted from the requirement to have a Temporary Food Establishment permit, but still require application, review and approval by the health district.
Review the following sections to learn more about permits and when a permit may not be required.
Temporary food establishments that do not meet the criteria listed above to be exempt from rules or exempt from permit with approval are required to apply for a TFE permit. There are three TFE permit tiers which correspond to different food service categories. Review the TFE levels below to understand your permitting options. The steps below outline what is required to apply for a Level 1, 2 or 3 TFE permit:
If you have any questions after reviewing the information below, please contact the SRHD Food Safety Program at foodsafetyprogram@srhd.org or 509.324.1560 ext. 2 at least three weeks prior to the date of your event. Applications for TFE permit must be received at least 14 days prior to an event to avoid added fees.
*Fee range is valid for 2024.
Learn more about food items that are exempt from regulations or permit by following this step-by-step process or watch the Temporary Food Establishment Seminar, which explains the TFE application process, categories and fees, TFE definition, sampling and exempt products, large TFE events and coordinator responsibilities, common violations, enforcement procedures, booth setup, and petting zoos.
