California Scale Certification & Weights and Measures

In California, day-to-day scale inspection is handled at the county or local level, with the state agency setting standards and providing oversight. If you operate a commercial scale in California — at a warehouse, farm, recycling yard, retail store, or truck stop — here is who regulates it, what the law requires, and exactly who to contact.

Who inspects commercial scales in California?

County Agricultural Commissioners / Sealers of Weights & Measures perform most device inspections under CDFA DMS oversight. A scale owner's first contact is the county sealer (directory: cdfa.ca.gov/exec/county/countymap/).

What California requires of scale owners

Devices are inspected and sealed by the county sealer, and any for-hire repair or placing-in-service must be performed by a CDFA Registered Service Agency (RSA), which files a Placed-in-Service Report.

Getting a scale into service — 4 steps

1. Buy a legal-for-trade (NTEP-certified) scale appropriate for your application and capacity.
2. Contact your county or local Weights & Measures office to confirm registration, fees, and inspection scheduling (state program: California Department of Food and Agriculture, (916) 229-3000).
3. Arrange compliant installation and calibration. Where required, placing-in-service must be done by a licensed or registered service company.
4. Stay compliant. Pass required inspections, keep calibration current, retain service records.

Common questions