Catering / Personal Chef

    Hired food service for private parties and events

All food prepared for service to the public (whether for profit or for free) must be prepared in a licensed and inspected restaurant kitchen. The State of Oregon does not have a 'catering' license. A kitchen used just for catering must meet all the same requirements as a full service restaurant kitchen. You may not operate a food establishment that prepares or otherwise serves food for public consumption from your home kitchen or any unlicensed kitchen.

These are the options available to 'caterers':

1. You may operate as a personal chef (see definition below). No licensure is required under this option.
2. You may prepare food, cook and clean up in a Deschutes County licensed restaurant - one that will allow you to operate your catering operation under that restaurant's license.**
3. You may obtain a license in your name and operate from an existing licensed Deschutes County restaurant under the signed approval of the restaurant owner.**
4. Build and operate from a licensed restaurant kitchen. A catering kitchen that has no public seating and is licensed as a zero-seat restaurant.

   ** both of the options to use an existing restaurant kitchen for a catering operation must complete and submit a Memorandum of Agreement for Catering Operations Utilizing A Licensed Food Service Facility. This agreement is available upon request.

What is a Personal Chef?

To meet this category, all food must be purchased 'raw' from an Oregon Department of Agriculture licensed store (Safeway, Costco…). These ingredients are transported to the client's house/location, and all cooking takes place at the client's location. No transportation of ready-to-eat potentially hazardous foods is allowed (no hot or cold holding). All cookware, service ware and cooking facilities are provided at the client's location. All leftovers remain at the client's location and all clean up is done at the client's location. Cooking as a personal chef is allowed for private parties only.

The State of Oregon adopted the F.D.A. Food Code in January of 2002. All restaurants operating in Oregon are required to follow these guidelines, which are presented in the Food Sanitation Rules.  If you are unable to view and/or download this document, you may request a copy in person by stopping by any of our three Deschutes County Community Development Department offices.

If you are interested in converting your kitchen to a restaurant kitchen or are interested in building a licensed restaurant kitchen, please review the Restaurant Plan Review Application Packet.