Bureau of Consumer Health Services
We protect you through education and enforcement of local, state, and federal public health and environmental rules and standards as they relate to city-regulated waste, food safety, swimming pool safety, and ambulance services.
We also prevent foodborne illness, drownings and waterborne illnesses, and protect the environment against sanitary sewer overflow and other discharges.
Find Houston ordinances for food, pools, ambulance, special waste, and temporary food service.
Frequently Used Forms
Ambulance Permits
Get ambulance driver and private ambulance company permitting, decal and spot inspections, and learn about EMS program enforcement.

Food Manager and Handler Certificate
The Houston Health Department's Food Manager and Food Handler Certificate classes prepare and certify individuals to become food service managers and handlers.

Food Safety and Inspections
Changing ownership of a food establishment
Food manager and food handler certification
Frequently asked questions
Opening a food establishment
Mobile food units
Post-disaster food safety
Charitable feeding

Food Truck Inspections
Scheduling your food truck inspection is now easier than ever. Our new, online appointment system lets you join the line from anywhere, wait wherever you want, receive wait time updates, and get notified when it's your turn.

Special Waste Permits
Our special waste program tracks waste, such as fat, oil and grease from commercial and residential establishments. Monitoring these waste products ensures that our city’s environment is protected from pollutants that may harm individuals and ecosystems.

Swimming Pool Permits
We help you to avoid dangerous situations that can arise when your pool or spa fails to meet standard safety protocols.

Temporary Food Permits
A temporary food permit may be issued only if the temporary food service establishment is part of an "event or "celebration." You may purchase up to 105 days of permits at the same location per calendar year.

CDC: Food Safety Updates
- Joy Joy's Bakery Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Wheat in Ube Spanish Bread, Ube Ensaymada, and Ube Roll
- Snack Innovations Inc. Conducts Voluntary Recall on a Limited Quantity of Drizzilicious Mini Rice Cakes 4oz & .74oz and Popcorn 3.6oz Products in the U.S. Due to Undeclared Peanut Allergen on Packaging
- Almondy is Initiating a Recall of a Limited Quantity of Almondy Chocolate Cake with Daim 14.1oz
- SkinnyDipped® Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Peanuts in a Limited Number of SkinnyDipped® Dark Chocolate Nut Products
- FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Ready-To-Eat Hy-Vee Beef Pot Roast Entrée Products due to Misbranding and an Undeclared Allergen
- Corim Industries Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Peanuts in Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate
- Fullei Fresh Issues Correction on Alfalfa Sprout Recall Because of Possible Health Risk
- Utopia Foods Expands Recall on "Enoki Mushrooms" Because of Possible Health Risk
- FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Fully Cooked, Frozen Swai Fried Fish Cutlet Products Produced Without Benefit of Inspection
- Ameripack Foods LLC Announces Allergy Alert for Undeclared Soy and Egg in H-E-B Meal Simple Chocolate Chunk Brownie