Division of Environmental Health Food Safety and Sanitation Program

Temporary Food Service

Requirements for Operating Temporary Food Service

Please review the Operating Temporary Food Service webpage for information about requirements and considerations when serving food at events.

If a permit is for four days or longer, the operator is required to have an Alaska Food Worker Card or food protection manager certification.

Permitting and Fees

Note to operations serving food in the Municipality of Anchorage: The State does not permit temporary food service within the Municipality of Anchorage. If the address where food will be served is within the limits of the Municipality of Anchorage, the operator must apply for a temporary food service permit from the Anchorage Health Department's Food Safety and Sanitation program.

Temporary food service permits are only valid for the food service operation named on the permit and the location, dates, and approved foods listed on the permit.

Food Service at One Location for Three Days or More per Week

If the temporary food service is operating at the same location for three days or more in a single week

• The location must be at an event
• The food service can operate for up to 21 consecutive days

Food Service at One Location for One or Two Days per Week

If the temporary food service is operating at the same location for one or two days during a single week

• The location can be at an event or somewhere without an event
• The food service can operate at the location for no more than two days in a single week over the course of about four months (120 days or less)
• The maximum number of operating days allowed on the permit is 28 days

Fees and Deadlines

Temporary food service permit applications have deadlines and late fees. Fees are determined by the number of days the temporary food service will be operating. Schools, churches, and 501(c)(3) groups are fee-exempt for temporary food service permitting.

Permit Length	Permit Fee	Permit Application Deadline	Late Fee*
1 day	$35	At least 7 days prior to the event start date	Permit fee is doubled
2-3 days	$65	At least 7 days prior to the event start date	Permit fee is doubled
4-7 days	$90	At least 7 days prior to the event start date	Permit fee is doubled
8-28 days	$120	At least 15 days prior to the event start date	Permit fee is doubled
Fee-exempt	No fee	Refer to deadlines above, deadlines are assessed according to event length	Original permit fee is applied, see fees by event length

• *A late fee will be applied to permit applications that are not received by the deadlines listed above.
• *Late fees are applied to tax-exempt organizations. The only time a late fee is not applied is in the case of school fundraisers.

Activities That Do Not Require a Permit

Some food sales at temporary events may not require a permit, but a permit is required if the operation sells any product that requires permitting.

Examples of activities that do not require a permit include:

• Homemade food (Visit Homemade Food to learn more)
  • This only applies to food made at home or a leased kitchen under the homemade food rule; if food is prepared on-site at the temporary event, a temporary food service permit is required
• Raw agricultural products (Visit Farmers Markets to learn more)
• Operations at events lasting one day or less where the foods served:
1. Are pre-cooked, packaged, ready-to-eat, or commercially-processed; and
2. Require only limited preparation and handling (e.g., a one-day event where the operator is reheating hotdogs on a grill)

Applying for a Temporary Food Service Permit

Access and complete the Temporary Food Service Permit Application. Once an application is received, staff from the Food Safety and Sanitation program will follow-up to ask questions about the food service operation (if needed) and to collect payment.

The temporary food service permit will be issued after the application is approved and payment is received.

Temporary food service may not operate until the permit is issued.

Temporary food service permits are only valid for one food operation at a single event. Each operation requires an individual permit for every event.

If you have any questions about applying for a permit, please contact your local Environmental Health Officer.

Regulatory References

• 18 AAC 31 Alaska Food Code
• 18 AAC 31.600 Temporary Food Service
• 18 AAC 31.012 Alaska Food Code Exemptions

Resources and Contacts