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Temporary Food Establishments at Special Events

IMPORTANT MESSAGE

During the 83rd Legislative Session (2025) Senate Bill (SB) 466 transferred the authority to regulate and permit food establishments from the Division of Public and Behavioral Health to the Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA). The bill was signed by the Governor on June 10, 2025, and became effective on July 1, 2025. A separate bill SB 494 created the Nevada Health Authority (NHA). These bills reorganized the Environmental Health Section into two separate programs. The NDA is responsible for all the food programs regulated in NRS and NAC 446, 583, 585 and 445A. The NHA will provide support for all non-food programs regulated under NRS/NAC 444, 585 and 447.   

Please contact us at the Nevada Health Authority, Environmental Health Section

Phone: 775-684-1061

Local Events, General Information

Deadlines for submission of application(s)

Submit Application

Submit Application - 5 days before the event.

Who needs a permit?

A Temporary Food Establishment Application shall be submitted by applicants that are sampling, selling, serving or giving away food that requires temperature control and processing to the public.

Where do I need a permit?

Temporary Food Establishments at Special Events covers all aspects of special events which operates at a fixed location for a temporary period of time, not to exceed 2 weeks. Some examples include: swap meets, flea markets, craft fairs, farmers markets, trade shows, conventions, consumer shows, community or association picnics, fairs, carnivals, fundraisers or similar transitory gatherings.

The State of Nevada EHS only permits temporary events in the following locations:

    • Elko County
    • Esmeralda County
    • Humboldt County
    • Lander County
    • Lincoln County
    • Lyon County
    • Nye County
    • Storey County
    • Washoe County: ONLY at UNR and TMCC
    • White Pine County

To be redirected to other local health jurisdictions.

How do I have a safe event?

How do I submit a permit?

The Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health now has an on-line application system. See the link below to access the new system.

Temporary Food Establishment Descriptions

  • Temporary Food Establishment - Local Event
    • Means any food establish which operates at a fixed location for a temporary period of time, not to exceed 2 weeks, in connection with a fair, carnival, circus, public exhibition, celebration or similar transitory gathering. This does not include Burning Man.
  • Temporary Event Coordinator
    • DO NOT APPLY FOR THIS PERMIT UNLESS SPECIFICALLY ASKED TO TO DO BY A ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST
  • Temporary Event Exemption
    • DO NOT APPLY FOR THIS PERMIT UNLESS SPECIFICALLY ASKED TO TO DO BY A ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST

Effective August 1, 2016 all Temporary Food applications submitted to the Environmental Health Section are required to be submitted through the online system at least 5 business days prior to the event start date. Please be aware that permits submitted after the 5 business day deadline will not be approved.

Nevada Business License ID

Nevada Business Licence ID's are not required for Temporary Event Applications. Applicants may skip field on application.

Fees

Permit fees paid will not be refunded for failure to obtain final approval or voluntary withdrawal.

Event Coordinator Application

DPBH-EHS permits special events with temporary sanitation services and food vendors. The Environmental Health Section works closely with event promoters throughout the event planning process to ensure that food vendor operations produce food which is safe for consumption. In locations that lack permanent facilities EHS works with the vendor to ensure that toilet facilities, garbage and wastewater are collected and disposed of in a sanitary manner. Event Coordinators must complete an application for each event. See the Forms Section for the application.