Temporary Food Vendor

Any person distributing food to the public outside of a permanently permitted facility must obtain a temporary food permit. Depending on the type of food distributed and type of event associated, there may be different requirements. Vendors participating under the homemade food act do not receive permits from CABQ Environmental Health Department.

Download Our Temporary Food Event Guides

Information for Market Vendors

On November 21, 2022, the City of Albuquerque passed the Market Food Vendor Ordinance. This allows vendors to obtain a single permit for participation in multiple markets within the City.

MARKET is defined as any temporary gathering of vendors, whether a single or recurring event organized by a market coordinator and operating at a single location, whose primary purpose is the selling of goods.

Vendors must still be approved by the Market Coordinator of any market they wish to participate in. A Permit issued by the City is required to operate at any market but is not an approval to participate in any specific market. Participation in a specific market is at the discretion of the Market Coordinator.

For questions on applying for vending at a market, please call environmental health at 505-768-2738.

Permit Types

Annual Market Food Establishment Permit (April 1 – March 31): $50
Late Season Market Food Establishment Permit (October 1 - March 31): $30

In order to receive an Annual Permit by March 31st, applications are due by March 15th. Permits submitted after March 15th are due at least 5 business days prior to commencement of operation.

Vendors may wish to participate under another type of temporary food permit when:

Participation is limited to a 14-Day time period at a single market, the vendor may apply for a Temporary Food-Service Establishment Permit.
The Vendor is only offering raw, uncut produce, the vendor may apply for a Raw Produce Permit.

For questions on applying for a Market Food Establishment Permit, please call the Environmental Health Department at 505-768-2738.

Information on Bake Sales

Bake sale operations may be covered by the Homemade Food Act.

Food items allowed under the homemade food act include non-temperature/time control for safety foods. Food that meets this definition only requires simple production steps and does not require refrigeration when complete.
Any vendor subject to the Homemade Food Act does not need to apply for a temporary food permit with the City of Albuquerque.
Learn more about the Homemade Food Act.
For questions regarding the Homemade Food Act, please contact the New Mexico Environment Department.

Bake sales that include food items requiring refrigeration will need to obtain a temporary food permit from the City of Albuquerque Environmental Health Department.

Please review the General Guidelines for Temporary Event Vendors and the different types of temporary food permits.

For questions regarding bake sales, please call environmental health at 505-768-2738.

General Guidelines for Temporary Event Planners and Market Coordinators

Event planners and Market Coordinators should visit Arts and Culture for information on applying for a special event permit.

Food Service

If you plan to (or have vendors who will) sell, serve and/or prepare food onsite you (or each vendor) will need to obtain a Temporary Food-Service Permit (for food preparation), a Temporary Retail Food Permit (for sale or distribution of prepackaged foods), and/or a Raw Produce Permit (for sale of raw, uncut produce).

For Markets: Vendors must obtain approval from a Market Coordinator to participate. Market vendors may obtain a Market Food Establishment Permit by submitting an application to the Environmental Health Department. This permit allows a vendor to participate at any market within the City under one permit.

Food vendors who are covered by the Homemade Food Act need not apply for temporary health permits, or market food establishment permits; but must comply with the standards of the act.

All event planners, market coordinators, and food vendors should review the Temporary Food Event Guide. For more information on temporary and market food establishment permits please contact the Environmental Health Department at 505-768-2738 with any questions.

Food Trucks

For events that will have food tucks, each food truck owner/operator have the following:

City of Albuquerque (COA) Business Registration
City of Albuquerque (COA) Fire Marshal’s Office Mechanical Permit
Valid food permit from the City of Albuquerque Environmental Health Department, Bernalillo County, or New Mexico Environment Department

General Guidelines for Temporary Event Vendors

Permit applications should be submitted at least 5 days prior to the event to ensure sufficient processing time. Applications submitted after the deadline will still be reviewed, but approval cannot be guaranteed. Please note, permit applications submitted after 4:30 p.m. will not be processed until the next business day.

All temporary permit applications must include the address of the commercial kitchen where food is to be prepared or stored prior to the event. If all preparation/storage will be on-site, please note this on the application.
All applicants for a temporary health permit must be in possession of a City of Albuquerque business registration. Learn more information on obtaining a business registration.
Brick and mortar food establishments wishing to vend food outside of their permitted premises must also obtain temporary food permits.
Mobile food units permitted by the City of Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, or the State of New Mexico need not obtain temporary food permits but must have:
- City of Albuquerque (COA) Business Registration
- City of Albuquerque (COA) Fire Marshal’s Office Mechanical Permit
- Valid food permit from the City of Albuquerque Environmental Health Department, Bernalillo County, or New Mexico Environment Department
Mobile food units permitted outside of the City of Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, or the State of New Mexico must submit a temporary food permit application along with a copy of their local jurisdiction health permit.
Any vendor subject to the Homemade Food Act does not need to apply for a temporary food permit. Learn more about the Homemade Food Act, house bill 177.
- Learn more about the Homemade Food Act.
- Only non- Time/Temperature Control for Safety foods are allowed to be made at home.
- Homemade food vendors should have signage designating themselves as such to prevent being visited by a City of Albuquerque health inspector.
Persons vending at private events must have the approval of the event coordinator prior to application approval. Private events include but are not limited to markets, Balloon Fiesta, and Summer Fest.
A Permit issued by the City is required to operate at any event or market, but is not an approval to participate in any specific event or market. Participation in a specific event or market is at the discretion of the Event/Market Coordinator.
Be aware that the City of Albuquerque Environmental Health Department’s health inspectors can and may show up at any event at which food is being served or sold. Please operate your food establishment with that understanding in mind. NOTE: Each vendor must display their permit to operate during the event; homemade food vendors must have signage designating themselves as such.

Prohibited Foods

Food containing cannabis
Seafood, including shellfish and sushi
Sprouts
Unpasteurized dairy products
Unpackaged raw animal food (meat)
Any meat or meat products that do not bear the USDA mark of inspection

Permit Type	Foods Allowed	Time Limit	Fees
Temporary Food-Service	*Individual portion service including prepared hot foods.	14 days	$25
Temporary Retail Food	*Packaged foods such as jams, jellies, salsa, cookies, cut produce, eggs.	7 days	$50
Raw Produce	*Raw, uncut produce from a commercial farm.	1 year, limited to one location	$15
Multiple Permits Needed	When offering food items from multiple categories above, each permit type must be submitted.		Individual fees apply per application
Market Food Establishment	Individual portion service, pre-packaged food at retail, and/or raw produce.	Date of issuance-March 31^st of the following year.	Annual Permit (April 1 – March 31): $50 Late Season Permit (October 1-March 31): $30

*Vendors participating under the homemade food act do not receive permits from CABQ Environmental Health Department.

Submitting an Application

Review the information below on the different types of temporary food permits, complete the appropriate permit application, and submit in one of the following ways:

Hand deliver to the Environmental Health Department at 1 Civic Plaza NW, 3rd Floor Room 3023, Albuquerque, NM 87102
Mail the application to the Environmental Health Department at PO Box 1293, Albuquerque, NM 87102
Fax the document to 505-768-2698
E-mail the document to [email protected]

If you need any assistance, call 505-768-2738.

Temporary Food-Service Establishment Permits

When distributing portion-service food outside of a permitted establishment, this permit is required. Portion-service food includes but is not limited to hamburgers, hot dogs, burritos, and sandwiches. Generally, there is some on-site assembly of foods during the event.

Permits are valid for 14 days for one location for participation in a single event or celebration.

Temporary Retail Food Establishment Permits

When distributing packaged items, this permit is required. Packaged items include but are not limited to cookies, cakes, jams, jellies, eggs, and jarred salsa. With a retail permit, there is no on-site assembly or preparation of food.

Permits are valid for 7 days for one location for participation in a single event or celebration.

Raw Produce Permits

When distributing commercially grown, uncut raw produce, this permit is required.

Permits are valid for 1 year for a single location.

Market Food Establishment Permits

When participating at markets within the City, this permit allows for an establishment to vend at multiple markets and offer food service, retail food, and/or raw produce.

Vendors must be approved by the Market Coordinator of the market they wish to participate in. A Permit issued by the City is required to operate at any market but is not an approval to participate in any specific market. Participation in a specific market is at the discretion of the Market Coordinator.

Annual Permit applications are due by March 15th and are valid from April 1-March 31.

Late Season Permit applications are issued starting on October 1st and are valid until March 31.

Any permit application submitted after March 15th is due at least 5 business days prior to commencement of operation.

Vendors must re-apply for Market Food Establishment permits each year; they will not automatically renew.

A vendor may choose to participate in a market with either a Temporary Food-Service Establishment, Retail Food Establishment, or a Raw Produce permit. However, the restrictions on timelines and locations of those permits will apply.

Complete the appropriate Permit application and bring it to the Environmental Health Department at 1 Civic Plaza NW 87102 or fax the document to 505-768-2698 or if you need assistance, call 505-768-2738.

All applications must be submitted at least 1 (one) week prior to the event.
Please note, permits submitted after 4:30 p.m. may not be processed until the next business day.

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Fees

Market Food Establishment Annual Permit: $50.00
Market Food Establishment Late Season Permit: $30.00
Temporary Food-Service Establishment Permit: $25.00
Temporary Retail Food Establishment Permit: $50.00
Raw Produce Permit: $15.00