It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a temporary food establishment within the County of McLean, or its police jurisdiction, who does not possess a valid permit issued by the Health Department. Only a person who complies with the requirements of this article shall be entitled to receive and retain such a permit. Permits shall not be transferable from one person or establishment to another person or establishment. A person must have a temporary food permit for each temporary food establishment or from one mobile unit to another mobile unit. A valid permit shall be posted in conspicuous view of the public in every temporary food establishment or the food establishment cannot open.
A.
Issuance of permits.
(1)
Any person desiring to operate a temporary food establishment shall make written application for a permit at least five days prior to the proposed date of opening for each event or for each season on forms provided by the Health Department. Such application shall be completed and signed by the owner or his or her representative. Applications submitted to the Health Department less than five business days prior to the opening day of any listed event on the application shall be assessed a penalty fee of $25.
(2)
Upon receipt of such an application for a Class J temporary food permit, the Health Department, at its discretion, may inspect the temporary food establishment and determine if the establishment is in compliance with the provisions of this article before issuing the permit. The permit is valid for one single special event or celebration and for a period of time not to exceed 14 days.
(3)
Upon receipt of such an application for a Class K multiple event temporary food permit, the Health Department shall cause to be inspected the temporary food establishment named in the application prior to the issuance of the permit to determine if the establishment is in compliance with the provisions of this article. When an inspection reveals that the provisions of the article have been met, a permit shall be issued. Multiple event temporary food permits shall expire six months after the date of issue or December 31, whichever one occurs sooner.
B.
Suspension of permits.
(1)
Permits may be suspended temporarily by the Health Department for failure of the holder to comply with the requirements of this article.
(2)
Whenever a permit holder or operator has failed to comply with any notice issued under the provisions of § 216-48D of this article, the permit holder or operator shall be notified in writing that the permit is, upon service of the notice, suspended and that an opportunity for a hearing will be provided if, within 72 hours, a written request for a hearing is filed with the Health Department by the permit holder.
(3)
Notwithstanding the other provisions of this article, whenever the Health Department finds insanitary or other conditions in the operations of a temporary food establishment which, in its judgment, constitute a substantial immediate hazard to the public health, it may, without warning, notice or hearing, issue a written notice to the permit holder or operator citing such condition, specifying the corrective action to be taken, and specifying the time period within which such action shall be taken, and, if deemed necessary, such order shall state that the permit is suspended at the time of inspection and all food service operations are to be immediately discontinued.
(4)
Any person to whom such an order is issued shall comply therewith, but, upon written petition filed not more than 72 hours after the discontinuance order, may request a hearing for abatement of the order. The Health Department shall provide a hearing not later than five days from the filing of said petition.
C.
Reinstatement of suspended temporary food permits. Any person whose permit has been suspended may, at any time, make application for a reinspection for the purpose of reinstatement of the permit. Within five days following receipt of a written request, including a statement signed by the applicant that in his or her opinion the conditions causing suspension of the permit have been corrected, the Health Department shall make a reinspection. If the applicant is in compliance with the requirements of this article, the permit shall be reinstated.
D.
Revocation of temporary food permits. For serious and/or repeated violations of any of the requirements of this article, for interference with the Health Department in the performance of its duties, the permit may be permanently revoked after an opportunity for a hearing has been provided by the Health Department. Prior to such hearing, the Health Department shall notify the permit holder in writing, stating the reasons for which the permit is subject to revocation and advising that the permit shall be permanently revoked at the end of five days following service of such notice unless within such five-day period a written petition for a hearing is filed with the Health Department. The Health Department shall provide a hearing not later than five days from the filing of said petition. A permit may be suspended for cause pending its revocation or a hearing relative thereto.
E.
Temporary food permit classifications. Temporary food permits shall be divided into two classes as follows:
F.
Temporary food permit fees. The fees for temporary food permits shall be as set forth in Chapter 205, Fees.
(1)
Fees shall be nonrefundable and paid before a temporary food permit can be issued.
(2)
Fee-exempt establishments: includes units of government and bona fide religious, charitable, educational, tax-exempt and other not-for-profit organizations registered under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code.
(3)
The Health Department may require proof of eligibility for any person or organization applying for a fee-exempt permit.
(4)
Late fees.
(a)
Any temporary food permit applications that are not received five business days prior to the first day of the proposed special event by the Health Department will be charged a late fee as set forth in Chapter 205, Fees, in addition to the required permit fee.
(b)
Any person found operating a temporary food establishment before submitting a written application to and with approval from the Health Department shall be assessed two times the corresponding Class J permit fee.