How many sinks do I need-concession trailer

Hi everyone. I was trying to find answers to my questions online and I came across this forum. I hope you guys can help..
 
I recently purchased a small concession trailer to sell coffee and possibly food outside my family's fruit stand. An inspector from health department came to the store one day (before I purchased the trailer) and when I asked him what was required he told me that anything mobile and enclosed. He told me I could even use a hot dog cart.
 
I purchased a trailer a couple months ago and it has 3 sinks, one single and one double. The same inspector came again and this time he said I will need another sink (total of 4). 4 sinks seems to be the law but in my situation I will only be selling coffee and will not have any dishes or lot of equipment that need to be washed.
 
I was wondering if there is a way around it because I get the impression that the health department is giving me a hard time, plus I don't need a 4th sink. Is 4 sinks the law no matter what you sell? I forgot to mention that the person that sold me the trailer used to sell coffee and ice cones out of it, in a different county, but in Ca.
 
Please let me know what you think. Thanks

If the HD required you to have 4 sinks you must have 4 sinks, it's the norm across the states and whats required. If you fight the system you'll lose. Best to keep on the right side and not the badside. And that, you can expand your possibilities anytime you want. Mike

Most will require a 3 compartment sink for dishes. The sink should be large enough to accommodate your largest pot, pan, coffee pot....what ever you will be washing. 
You will be required a sperate hand washing sink.
If all you are selling is coffee, you may get away without 4 sinks.
Call the hd and tell them what exactly you are doing and ask what is required. They do have the last word. Ask 3 inspectors, sometimes you will get 2 different answers.
Get your answer in writing.

How many did your Health Dept say you needed ? That is the answer to your question. Don't go off of what anyone else tells you. Your county may be different. A generalized answer would be 4. 3 comp for washing, and one hand sink.

Wild Dog is right on the money:How many did your Health Dept say you needed ? That is the answer to your question. Don't go on what anyone else tells you. Your county may be different.
 
I have never understood why people after being told by local authority's, (HD in this case) think they can get better advice online? Not being a smart a$$ but if the speed limit in your area was 65 MPH would you think to go online and ask "can I go 75 MPH? LMAO Hell no you wouldn't. Even more important your in a rural area and your HD inspector can be your best friend or biggest enemy. Which would you prefer?He will come around when you least expect him, be prepared and always do the right thing then you have no worries.My inspector sends his family to my BBQ stand and that's pretty cool. I hope someday you can get your inspector to do the same.
Good Luck
Jack
 

yup 3 sinks for washing =  wash,  rinse, sanitize, and one for hand washing.
even if your selling just coffee you'll still need to wash ,rinse, sanitize.your pots, wash down your machine,shelves,etc. like the rest said: if your h/d guy say's you need it..................... better put it in pal....

thanks for the answers everybody. I don't mind putting an extra sink as long as I have to, just wanted to make sure.
 
Dr. of BBQ & Wild dog: You missed the point when I said what I was told the first time by the inspector. When the inspector says I can use a hot dog or coffee cart I was left with the assumption that I don't even need a sink and that I could use the sinks inside the store.
 
I don't even think I can fit another sink in my trailer but I will get a second opinion from a different inspector and if he says I need 4 so be it.
 
What would you guys advice me to sell other than coffee? Do donuts and pastries sell? Should I do coffee and hot dogs/corn dogs and maybe nachos? The place is located on a highway and there's nothing else really close by, so I think I do need to sell some type of food "to go".

Tiger, where is your fruit stand located... I lived in the area for 20+ years off and on until recently. 
 How much traffic does the fruit stand get?
What type of equipment is in your "concession trailer?"
 
 

It appears that many HD’s are developing a uniform code about sinks. The main thing to understand is that the compartments of a three compartment sink only need to be large enough to wash the largest item you would wash in the trailer. Many trailers we have seen actually use bar sinks. In Georgia and a lot of other states they may require you to wash your utensils every four hours. (This is way you see little 3 compartments on Hotdog Carts.)
Your state should have a uniform code or regulation book you can down load. Mobile food vending is tricky in a lot of states and your knowledge of the rules and regulations will save you countless hours. Most local HD”s considers themselves to be overworked to start with and don’t offer much advice or sometimes conflicting advice.  
 
If you operate a mobile food unit then most likely your state will require you to have a commissary or base of operation. This facility must be able to pass the HD’s inspection and requirements. If your parents store already has HD approval then you are OK. In our state produce stores are regulated by the dept of agriculture and would require additional equipment to pass a HD inspection.
 
We have some friends who do coffee, lemonade and have a Lil Orbits donut machine. They do quite well at certain festivals.

JodyP


It appears that many HD’s are developing a uniform code about sinks. The main thing to understand is that the compartments of a three compartment sink only need to be large enough to wash the largest item you would wash in the trailer. Many trailers we have seen actually use bar sinks. In Georgia and a lot of other states they may require you to wash your utensils every four hours. (This is way you see little 3 compartments on Hotdog Carts.)
Your state should have a uniform code or regulation book you can down load. Mobile food vending is tricky in a lot of states and your knowledge of the rules and regulations will save you countless hours. Most local HD”s considers themselves to be overworked to start with and don’t offer much advice or sometimes conflicting advice.  

If you operate a mobile food unit then most likely your state will require you to have a commissary or base of operation. This facility must be able to pass the HD’s inspection and requirements. If your parents store already has HD approval then you are OK. In our state produce stores are regulated by the dept of agriculture and would require additional equipment to pass a HD inspection.

We have some friends who do coffee, lemonade and have a Lil Orbits donut machine. They do quite well at certain festivals.

In Minnesota only  half of the largest item must fit in the sink, then you flip it over and wash the other half.

no, we get the point, but the fact that you think the HD is giving you a hard time has me wondering. Have you had any other dealings with a food establishment ?  to not realize you need more than one sink to do dishes in a commercial environment ? If the HD tells you something, why in the WORLD would you question it ? This is the same man who is going to APPROVE you to have a permit and sell food. These are NOT the people you want to piss off. They can nit pick your trailer to the point you never open.  Don't screw with the HD. They are just doing their  job which they are educated pretty much on an ongoing monthly basis.

tiger23

I don't even think I can fit another sink in my trailer but I will get a second opinion from a different inspector and if he says I need 4 so be it.

 
 
that right there is going to get you in a mess if it gets back to the other inspector.......
 
out here, once you are assigned an inspector (same one who inspects your commissary) he is yours for life, and it doesnt matter what any other inspector says, they wont officially go against each other, what yours says it what goes, and thats it.....
i cant think of an easier way to pizz off your inspector, then to let him find out your going around behind his back trying to get him "over ruled"
 
and remember, different counties in the same state have totally, or can have totally different rules, just because someone 5 miles down the road can do it dont mean you can do it
 
 
 

tiger23

What would you guys advice me to sell other than coffee? Do donuts and pastries sell? Should I do coffee and hot dogs/corn dogs and maybe nachos? The place is located on a highway and there's nothing else really close by, so I think I do need to sell some type of food "to go".

 
dont take this the wrong way.......
 
but you should go back inside and plug up a coffee pot and sell fruit.....

yep... pretty much sums it up... and put your trailer on craigslist.

Thanks for all the replies. I have to ask a different inspector because the one that showed up was from a different county (where the store is located) and he's the one that told me I need to take care of this through the county/city of Sacramento (different county). I'm not sure why the trailer belongs to a different county even though it's in the same location but that's what I was told.  I'm not going against his word, we've actually become friendly and he often stops to buy produce and say hello, but I will do what I'm told from the county that I belong. He was probably referring to the rules that apply to the county he works for, but it probably seems like I will need a 4th sink otherwise he would have told me that it depends if rules were different from county to county. I will take care of it this week, and hopefully I'm starting the next.
 ps. I was not assigned any inspector. The one that showed up came randomly and since he was there I asked him what I would need.
@backalleyburger: Unfortunately I am a normal human that needs to learn in order to know. There is nothing wrong asking what sells and what doesn't. I'm just preparing myself to make the least possible mistakes starting my concession trailer. If you were such a smart ass since the day you were born and already knew the business inside out then you 're a genius but an exception to the rule.
Wild Dog: I'll figure out ways to use my trailer more productively, but thanks for the advice.