Skip to main content
California Department of Education Logo

Capital Expenditure Approved List

U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Capital Expenditure Approved List for school food authority equipment purchases.

For more information on the purchase of equipment and instructions for submitting a request for equipment not on this list, please see Management Bulletin SNP-38-2014 at USDA Capital Expenditure List and Equip. Purchases. Note: Equipment provided in this list has state agency pre-approval for purchases that support the operation and improvement of School Nutrition Programs only.

  1. Refrigerator and Freezer - Excluding Walk-in Units
    1. Blast Chiller
    2. Camchiller
    3. Combo
    4. Glass Door
    5. Ice Chest
    6. Ice Machine
    7. Milk Cooler
    8. Mobile
    9. Reach-in
    10. Roll-in
    11. Undercounter
    12. Work-top
  2. Gas or Electric Oven/Range/Stove/Steamer
    1. Combi
    2. Convection
    3. Conventional
    4. Conveyor
    5. Countertop
    6. Double Stack
    7. Griddle
    8. Heat-n-Hold
    9. Holding Unit
    10. Induction Cooktop
    11. Range Top
    12. Reel
    13. Rotating Rack
  3. Hot or Cold Cart/Cabinet
    1. Beverage Service
    2. Buffet
    3. Holding
    4. Mobile
    5. Proofing
    6. Retherm
    7. Rolling
    8. Self Serve
    9. Serving
    10. Warming
  4. Hood
    1. Exhaust
    2. Fire Suppression Hood
    3. Condensate
  5. Mixer
    1. Countertop
    2. Floor
  6. Kitchen Sink
    1. Compartment
    2. Hand
    3. Utility
  7. Individual Equipment Items
    1. Air Fryer
    2. Barbeque (allowable when serving reimbursable meals)
    3. Bagging Machine
    4. Braising Pan
    5. Broiler
    6. Cold Pan Serving Counter
    7. Commercial Juicer
    8. Cook/Chill System
    9. Depositor and Filling Machine
    10. Dishwasher
    11. Dough Divider
    12. Drawer Warmer
    13. Floor Scrubber
    14. Food Display (Hot or Cold)
    15. Food Processor
    16. Food Slicer, Chopper, Dicer, etc.
    17. Generator
    18. Griddle
    19. Hot Well Transport System
    20. Meal/Food Packing Machine
    21. Menu Boards (Kitchen/Serving Area)
    22. Microwave
    23. Milk Dispensers
    24. Pizza Oven
    25. Plate/Tray Dispenser
    26. Point of Sale (POS) System and Licensing Renewal
    27. Produce Washers
    28. Salad Bar
    29. Serving Equipment
    30. Serving Line System (Hot or Cold)
    31. Shrink Wrapper Machine
    32. Smoothie Blender
    33. Speed Line (Hot or Cold)
    34. Stainless Steel Work Tables
    35. Steam Jacket Kettle (Gas or Electric)
    36. Steam Table
    37. Styrofoam Recycling Machine
    38. Tilt Skillet
    39. Tray Sealer Machine
  • Per title 2, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 200.439: "Capital expenditures for special purpose equipment are allowable as direct costs, provided that items with a unit cost of $10,000 or more have the prior written approval of the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity."

  • Per USDA Policy Memorandum SP 31-2014, school food authorities purchasing equipment from this list are not required to receive prior approval from the California Department of Education (CDE).

  • Note: equipment approvals assume existing utility connections are adequate and within the area where the equipment will be installed per manufacturer requirements. Service systems--new or upgrades are unallowable expenses using nonprofit school food service funds. E.g., air conditioners, heating systems, ventilation systems, intercommunication systems, sanitary systems, sewer systems, telephone, and computer lines. The California School Accounting Manual Procedure 770 provides criteria for identifying service systems.

  • Per USDA Policy Memorandum SP 39-2016, SFSP 13-2016, CACFP 11-2016, only school districts operating the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and/or Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) in conjunction with the School Nutrition Program (SNP) are not required to receive prior approval from the CDE before purchasing equipment appearing on this list; however, school districts on either program must account for the expense in the program budget to which the cost pertains.

The effective date of the USDA Capital Expenditure Approved List for SNPs is November 15, 2023.

Questions:   Resource Management Unit | SNPCafeFundQuestions@cde.ca.gov
Last Reviewed: Friday, February 28, 2025
Related Content
  • Cafeteria Fund Guidance
    Provides Local Educational Authorities (LEA) with information and instructions pertaining to federal and State statutes and regulations that govern school cafeteria funds.
Recently Posted in Nutrition
  • REQUIRED: 2025–26 FFVP Orientation Trainings (added 15-Aug-2025)
    The CDE NSD requires all 2025–26 FFVP grantees to complete the mandatory FFVP Orientation Online Training Series before implementing the FFVP. The training series must be completed by no later than Monday, September 15, 2025, at 5 p.m. PST.
  • Action Required: Excess Net Cash Resources (added 12-Aug-2025)
    Provides information to program operators about excess net cash resources, the budget agreement process, and long-term noncompliance.
  • SNP Reimbursement Rates for 2025-26 (added 12-Aug-2025)
    This web page provides the School Nutrition Programs (SNP) reimbursement rates for the 2025-26 school year.
  • 2024 Turnip the Beet Award Winners (added 12-Aug-2025)
    The California Department of Education Nutrition Services Division would like to congratulate 21 California school districts for receiving a 2024 Turnip the Beet Award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service.
  • May 27, 2025 Tuesday at 2 Town Hall Resources (added 12-Aug-2025)
    The California Department of Education (CDE) Nutrition Services Division (NSD) hosted the monthly Tuesday @ 2 School Nutrition Town Hall webinar May 27, 2025.

  • June 24, 2025 Tuesday at 2 Town Hall Resources (added 12-Aug-2025)
    The California Department of Education (CDE) Nutrition Services Division (NSD) hosted the monthly Tuesday @ 2 School Nutrition Town Hall webinar June 24, 2025.
  • Chef Ann Healthy School Food Pathway Fellowship (added 12-Aug-2025)
    The Chef Ann Foundation is accepting applications for the 2026 Healthy School Food Pathway Fellowship Program. This fellowship supports the development of school food leaders who can support a sustainable program centered around scratch-cooked meals.
  • Webinar: Tuesday at 2 School Nutrition Town Hall (added 04-Aug-2025)
    School Nutrition Town Hall webinar for School Nutrition Program Operators and Food Service Directors.
  • CNAC Minutes for the November 2, 2023 Meeting (added 31-Jul-2025)
    Meeting minutes for the State Superintendent of Public Instruction Child Nutrition Advisory Council (CNAC) on November 2, 2023.
  • Next Steps: 2025–26 FFVP Grant Recipients (added 30-Jul-2025)
    On July 28, 2025, the CDE NSD awarded and posted the FFVP first allocation grant recipients and funding allocations for School Year 2025–26 on the CDE FFVP Funding Results web page. The FFVP first allocation is July 1, 2025–September 30, 2025.