Apply to open or operate a certified farmers’ market

You need a state agriculture certificate from the California Department of Food and Agriculture. You will need to provide a map of your market that highlights the vendors selling agricultural products and vendors that are not selling agricultural products. Start your application.

Check the fee schedule for the exact amount. Write a check or money order to the "San Francisco Department of Public Health". Mail the fee to:

Once we process your agriculture certification, we will send it to the Food Safety program. When you apply for your food safety permit, you will need:

• A copy of San Francisco Business Registration Certificate
• San Francisco Zoning Referral Form
• Written approval from site manager if your market is on private property
• Updated list of all your vendors (including agriculture, retail food vendors, and temporary food facility vendors)
• A site map that shows the layout of the market, with the exact location of each vendor and restroom
• Restroom Verification Form. You will need at least:
  • 1 restroom for every 15 food workers
  • Located within 200 feet of every food booth
  • A place for people to wash their hands

If you will have vendors selling processed or packaged food you also need a health permit from the Food Safety program. Start your application here. 

We will tell you how much you owe when you submit your application. Find out what your fee is with the farmers' market fee worksheet. This fee includes:

• Application fee for Food Permit to Operate
• Fire Department Referral Fee
• Zoning Referral Fee (if your market will be on private property)

After your market plan is approved by the health department, you can invite other vendors to join. There are certain restrictions and requirements for different types of vendors:

Vendors selling produce they have grown

Make sure vendors are certified to sell their own produce. View a list of certified producers.

Vendors selling prepared or pre-packaged food

Make sure vendors have a retail food vendor permit. Learn more about the requirements for selling food at a farmers' market.

Vendors making food onsite

If you will have temporary food facilities at your market, you must:

• Have them fill out a temporary food facility concessionaire application
• Fill out your own sponsor application

Learn more about the requirements for vendors selling prepared or prepackaged food.

Food truck vendors

Food truck vendors should already have a mobile food facility permit. They need to apply for a health permit separately. Have them email their documents to Amelia Castelli, Senior Environmental Health Inspector at amelia.castelli@sfdph.org. The application should include:

• The Mobile food facility concession application
• Approval letter from the market manager
• Copy of their health permit to operate
• Copy of their food safety manager certificate