Soft-serve / frozen dessert machine — County health fee category: Los Angeles restaurant guide
LA County Public Health — Environmental Health Confirm with the city
What it is
California has no separate retail frozen-dessert license, but LA County's fee schedule lists an annual "Soft Serve Machine" fee and a "Soft Serve, State Fee", with re-sampling fees for high bacterial counts; soft-serve machines are inspected and sampled as part of your Public Health Permit.
When a restaurant needs it
Making soft-serve, frozen yogurt or ice cream on site.
How to apply
Declare the machine(s) on your Public Health Permit/License Application and plan check; EH bills the machine fee with the permit.
Documents you’ll need
- Equipment schedule showing the machine
- Cleaning/sanitizing procedure
- Pasteurized mix supplier
Good to know
Confirm with your district office whether the machine fee is billed per machine on top of the restaurant permit; the fee schedule lists it under vending/soft-serve categories.
Official source
EH fee schedule FY 2026-27 (soft serve machine) · LA County EH — restaurants & retail food stores
Answer a few questions about your space and get every permit in order, with a timeline, a cost range, walkthroughs, and every application filled in for you to sign with Open.
Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Guidance only, not legal advice.