Restaurants
Guide to Laws for Restaurant Customers & Owners in the Los Angeles area
1. Health & Safety

Do restaurants have to post their health grades?
Yes. Throughout Los Angeles County, you have the right to know the health grade (e.g. A, B, C, etc) the restaurant has received in its most recent inspection. This grade must be prominently displayed.1LA County Municipal Code Sec. 8.04.752
You can find the full inspection reports at the LA County Public Health website.
How do I file a complaint against a restaurant for unhealthy conditions?
You can use the LA County Environmental Health online complaint system or call 888-700-9995.
2. Bringing pets
Am I allowed to bring my pet to a restaurant?
In L.A. County, restaurant owners are authorized (but not required) to allow dogs in outdoor dining areas, following certain guidelines.2Long Beach has its own health code, but follows the same policy as the rest of L.A. County; see Long Beach policy here.
In the rest of California, restaurant owners are authorized to do so unless the city or county has specifically prohibited it.3CA Health & Safety Code Sec. 114259.6
3. Bringing service animals
Am I allowed to bring my service animal to a restaurant?
Yes. Federal law requires that restaurants allow people with a disability to bring service animals.428 CFR Sec. 36.302(c) See more info here.
4. Restrooms
Are restaurants allowed to have single-stall single-user bathrooms only for men or only for women?
No. As of March 2017 all restaurants in California must identify single-stall single-user bathrooms as all-gender.5AB 1732
5. Plastic straws and utensils
As of January 2019, sit-down restaurants in California will not be allowed to serve plastic straws unless a customer specifically requests it. Many cities also ban other plastic utensils. See more at our Guide to Laws about the Environment.
6. Other
Is it illegal for a restaurant in California to serve foie gras?
As of January 2019, yes it is illegal to serve foie gras, the French delicacy made from the fattened livers of force-fed ducks and geese. A restaurant caught serving foie gras could be fined up to $1,000. See more about Animal Rights
RELATED PAGES
- Laws About Alcohol in California
- Guide to Laws for People with Disabilities
- Guide to Consumer Laws in California
References