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Same permits apply to: catering for events.
A caterer answers to the city or municipal health office. The sanitary permit and health certificate rules for food establishments apply to caterers, and FDA licensing does not. The thing owners miss most: any vehicle that carries readily perishable food must have refrigeration equipment, so a plain van for lechon and seafood may not pass.[1,2]
Your kitchen is what gets the permit
The PD 856 food establishment rules apply the sanitary permit and health certificate sections to caterers. The sanitary permit fee is set by your city or municipal ordinance, and the kitchen's water supply must be adequate and potable.[1]
If you cook at home now, check that the kitchen you will use can pass an inspection: clean water, a handwashing sink, covered storage and pest control. Renting a commissary kitchen is another option.
Getting food to the venue
Vehicles carrying readily perishable food must have refrigeration equipment.[1]
Plan your vehicle around your menu. Cooked rice and pancit for a short trip are different from raw seafood or desserts for a long drive. Insulated boxes and ice packs help, but ask your health office what it accepts for your setup.
Extra hands on event days
Health certificates are renewed at least yearly. Every caterer staff member who handles food needs one.[1]
Big events often mean extra servers. Keep a pool of regular part-timers whose certificates are current, rather than hiring someone new the night before. Pair with an event planner for repeat bookings.
Before your first event
- Choose your kitchen: home, rented commissary or a leased space.
- Book health certificates for cooks, servers and helpers.
- Arrange a vehicle with refrigeration for perishable dishes.
- Write a standard contract with menu, headcount, deposit and cancellation terms.
- Prepare a packing list of chafing dishes, utensils and covers.
- Keep a staff list with certificate expiry dates.
Questions people ask
- Does a catering business need an FDA license?
- No. AO 2014-0029 does not cover caterers. They are under the LGU.
- Do I need a refrigerated van?
- If you carry readily perishable food, the PD 856 food rules require refrigeration equipment in the vehicle.
- Can I cater from my home kitchen?
- The rules apply to anyone operating a kitchen for catering, so a home kitchen still needs a sanitary permit. Ask your health office if it can pass inspection.
- Do servers hired for one event need health certificates?
- The health certificate rule covers catering staff. Keep a pool of part-timers who already have current certificates.
Sources
Checked 13 November 2026. We link the agency's own page for every requirement. Rules change; confirm with the office before you pay.
- Implementing Rules and Regulations of Chapter III, Food Establishments, of P.D. No. 856 · Department of Health (text via Supreme Court E-Library) · 29 December 1995
- Administrative Order No. 2014-0029: Rules and Regulations on the Licensing of Food Establishments and Registration of Processed Food, and Other Food Products · Department of Health / FDA (text via FAO FAOLEX) · 8 September 2014
The extra permits, in one table
| Permit or registration | Agency | When it applies | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanitary permit (IRR Sec. 7(a) applies Sec. 3(a) to caterers)[1] | City/municipal health office (LGU) | always | set by city/municipal ordinance (IRR Sec. 3(a)3); no national amount |
| Health certificates for catering staff (IRR Sec. 7(b))[1] | City/municipal health office (LGU) | always | Not published |
| Annual renewal of employee health certificates[1] | City/municipal health office (LGU) | always | Not published |
| Refrigerated vehicle for perishable food[1] | City/municipal health office (LGU) | if transporting readily perishable food | Not published |
| Potable[1] | City/municipal health office (LGU) | always | Not published |
Rules and exemptions
What a catering business does not need
- FDA licensing (AO 2014-0029) does not cover canteens, restaurants, caterers, water refilling stations or street food; these are under LGUs[2]