Food Safety Program Set For Major Overhaul In Marin County

MARIN COUNTY, CA – The way Marin County oversees local restaurants and food businesses is changing as the Environmental Health Services team is shifting its focus from being strictly a regulator to becoming a partner with business owners, officials said.

The changes will be presented to the Marin County Board of Supervisors during their meeting Tuesday at the Marin Center’s Showcase Theater.

After a public discussion held by the Supervisors in August 2025 and a follow-up workshop in October 2025, the department incorporated suggestions designed to streamline operations. Proposed changes include making permitting for change-of-ownership simpler and speeding up the review process for routine paperwork.

“Our goal is to move the food program from a traditional oversight model to a modern, collaborative framework,” said Greg Pirie, who leads EHS for the Marin County Community Development Agency. “We plan to increase our public outreach, consultation, and digital engagement. We expect this will lead to less hassle and more clear, predictable support. We want to let business owners know we’re here to help them succeed right from the start.”

The Elevate CDA department initiative, approved by Supervisors in October 2025 following a third-party review, aims to boost customer service and efficiency, officials said. The EHS Consumer Protection team continues its vital role in resident safety by addressing health risks and collaborating with Public Health on foodborne illness reports.