Welcome to RMA

The Resource Management Agency strives to ensure that its customer service standards are consistent with the Agency’s Mission Statement:

The mission of the Resource Management Agency, in cooperation with the public and our partner agencies, is to protect the consumer and community’s health, safety, and environment by carrying out adopted laws and policies, and educating, assisting, and empowering Ventura County residents and businesses to be good stewards of the land and our resources.

Values

In addition, RMA has identified those core values which will guide us in carrying out our mission. These values are directly related to our customer service and include:

  • Honesty, hard work, and ethical behavior

  • Transparency and accountability

  • Equitable treatment and respect of all constituents

  • Excellence in service delivery


 Inspector Initiated Closures  Owner Initiated Closures  Unpermitted Facilities

Closures or "permit suspensions" are performed in response to Imminent Health Hazards present in a food facility that pose a serious health hazard if not immediately corrected. Such Imminent Health Hazards include, but are not limited to:

  • Vermin (cockroaches, rats, mice) in critical food areas
  • Sewage overflow
  • No operable restrooms
  • No water available
  • Lack of hot water for adequate dish and hand washing
  • Power outages
  • Unsanitary Conditions
  • Fire or other disaster

The Ventura County Environmental Health Division recognizes that closures can be owner initiated, meaning the owner or operator of the business recognizes that the hazard exists and does the right thing in self-closing their business prior to an inspector's arrival and ordering the facility closed. We encourage this practice because it eliminates the exposure to the consumer to the health hazard faster than waiting for an inspector to initiate or order the closure.

The main purpose for closures is to safeguard the health and safety of the public. A closure allows the facility to concentrate their efforts on eliminating the reason for the closure.

Whether it is an  Inspector Initiated Closure or an Owner Initiated Closure, a representative of the Ventura County Environmental Health Division will always verify that the imminent health hazard has been completely and safely eliminated.

Occasionally, a food facility is being operated without the required permit(s) from the Environmental Health Division (EHD). Such facilities have not had their equipment, menu or food handling operation reviewed by EHD to verify that they meet food safety requirements in state law and can operate legally. EHD closes these facilities until they have submitted plans and related documents for review; and have met all the legal requirements to operate. CLICK HERE for a list of food facilities closed for operating without a valid permit.