The Environmental Health Division improves the environmental quality of life and the health of Pasadena area residents through education and protection of the environment by eliminating known agents that cause diseases injuries and unsanitary conditions. Environmental Health staff are responsible for enforcing California Health and Safety Codes and Municipal Codes related to all food facilities, street food vendors, public swimming pools, noise control and vector control. Staff also work with the Pasadena Humane Society to ensure animal and rabies control.
This section has been developed for you to learn more about the food service establishments in Pasadena from the perspective of safe food handling. Food establishments that sell or serve food to the public must get an annual permit and be inspected by the Pasadena Public Health Department/Environmental Health Division. These food establishments include restaurants, fast food establishments, food and espresso carts, bakeries, coffee bars, delis, the fresh food sections in grocery stores, bars/pubs, retail food markets, liquor stores and more. There are nearly 1,000 permitted food service establishments in Pasadena. The majority of these food establishments are inspected throughout the year. The purpose of the inspections is to assure that the food is being handled properly from preparation through serving. Health Inspectors observe kitchen workers' food handling practices, assure equipment is working properly, take food temperatures, inspect refrigerators and storage areas, assure water temperatures, and correct level and use of sanitizers. Any problem found is written up, and the manager is taught the correct procedure or method immediately. At this website you can view the date of the most recent health inspection of an establishment, the results of that inspection, and the score assigned to the establishment based on the inspection results. The scoring system is based upon 100 weighted points distributed over 80 different violations that summarize all the health and sanitation regulations, from food protection to conditions of walls and floors. Critical violations (a provision that, if violated, is more likely than other violations to contribute to food contamination, illness and/or injury) are assigned a higher weighted point value than non-critical violations. Critical violations are listed on the inspection report. The score is obtained by subtracting the sum of the weighted points assigned to each category where a violation has been found from the total of 100 points. Search For a Food Establishment
Do you have an environmental health complaint? Do you want to report it?Call (626) 744-6004 for additional information.
You may report needed repairs and other issues online through the Pasadena Citizen Service Center. Get information about or submit a service request for:
To use the service, go to the Citizen Service Center and click on "Submit a Request." Once you have submitted the request you will be contacted by the appropriate department.
Looking for general information? Search our list of FAQs.
The following forms can be downloaded and be filled in electronically. Call (626) 744-6004 for more information or stop by the office at 1845 N. Fair Oaks Ave, Room 1200.
Download the following tri-fold brochures to learn how you can protect yourself from various infectious diseases: