Food Safety and Inspection Program
Our families depend on the safety of the food we eat at food service establishments. Food safety inspections protect our community from disease, disability, and death resulting from food-borne and waterborne illness. By administering the public health ordinances of the City of Houston and the State of Texas through enforcement and education, our food safety inspectors ensure that the food provided by food service establishments is safe for our families and our community.
Attention Food service providers: In accordance with Senate Bill 1008, the Houston Health Department will update all local food safety regulations to align fully with state and federal laws.
As part of Senate Bill 1008, the Houston Health Department is aligning local food safety regulations and permit fees with those set by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). This includes adopting the risk-based fee model and repealing all local permit categories not recognized by DSHS.
Please click on the tabs below for further information.
Upcoming Changes to Food Safety Regulations – Effective September 1, 2025
In accordance with Senate Bill 1008, the Houston Health Department will update all local food safety regulations to align fully with state and federal laws.
Effective September 1, 2025, the City of Houston will:
- Adopt the FDA Model Food Code and Texas Food Establishment Rules (TFER) by reference.
- Repeal the Houston Food Ordinance (Chapter 20 – Food and Drugs).
- And eliminate all duplicative or conflicting provisions in local law.
These updates will ensure consistency across jurisdictions, reduce regulatory confusion for operators and modernize our approach to food safety based on risk.
📅 Timeline and Next Steps
Summer - Fall 2025:
The Health Department will begin training staff, engage with industry stakeholders and provide outreach to food establishment operators.
September 1, 2025:
The new food safety framework goes into effect. All inspections and enforcement actions will reference the FDA Model Food Code and TFER.
Fall 2025 and beyond:
HHD will continue to offer technical assistance, provide updated inspection tools and evaluate implementation for ongoing improvements.
Stay tuned to this page for training materials, FAQs and upcoming webinars.
What This Means for Food Businesses
Most food operators in Houston will not experience major changes to their daily operations or compliance responsibilities. The Houston Food Ordinance has historically transcribed large portions of state and federal food safety rules.
The primary change is how violations are categorized: Retail Food Safety Inspections Violation Category Comparison Chart
We are moving from “critical” and “non-critical” violations to the FDA’s risk-based categories:
- Priority
- Priority Foundation
- Core
This change will help improve clarity, consistency and public health protection while aligning Houston with food safety systems used nationwide.
Food operators will still:
- Work with the same inspectors.
- Follow the same safety practices.
- And continue routine inspections and corrective actions.
The Houston Health Department is committed to a smooth transition with no disruption to your business operations.
Fee Structure Update – Effective September 1, 2025
As part of Senate Bill 1008, the Houston Health Department is aligning local food safety regulations and permit fees with those set by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). This includes adopting the risk-based fee model and repealing all local permit categories not recognized by DSHS.
Starting September 1, 2025:
- All food permit fees must align with DSHS’s fee-based structure.
- Permit categories must match those recognized by DSHS. Houston may no longer issue permits for categories not included in state law (with exception for the FOG Generator permit).
- Local, employee-based fee calculations are no longer allowed.
What This Means for You
- Most businesses will see no change in permitting processes, only in the fee calculation.
- The new model promotes fairness by aligning costs with public health risk.
- Temporary permit holders benefit from a more affordable and flexible permit system.
Retail Food Safety Inspections Fee Structure Changes Document
The Food Safety and Inspection program is part of Bureau of Environmental Health. Along with other programs, our purpose is is to carry out a city-wide program for food safety, to promote health, and to prevent food-borne disease through education, training and regulation.
The program is designed to work in partnership with the people who make the day-today decisions that determine food safety — the owners, operators and employees of all food service establishments.
Retail Food Inspection
The retail food inspection section is responsible for routine inspections and compliance investigations at all retail food establishments (places selling, serving or giving away food directly to people who may consume the food).
This includes: restaurants, grocery stores, retail bakeries, schools, day-care centers, convenience stores, bars, produce stands, mobile food units (routine sanitation inspections) and other similar operations. In addition, this section inspects temporary food establishments at the livestock show, festivals and other special events.
Specialized Food Inspection
The specialized food inspection section is responsible for inspections and complaint investigations of all food establishments not inspected by the retail inspection section and conducts pre-operational inspections of all food establishments.
Specific functions:
- inspections of wholesale establishments such as warehouses, commercial food processors, commercial bakeries and commissaries;
- inspections of catering businesses, hospitals and nursing homes,
- mobile food unit inspections including: inspections associated with new units, the annual renewal of permits, surveillance of unpermitted mobile food vendors and catering trucks with routes.
- sampling of frozen dessert machines (soft serve, frozen yogurt, slush)
- checking plans in the case of new or remodeled facilities, as well as conducting pre-operational inspections of new businesses and facilities.
Specialized Processing
Variances and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans are required for some types of food or food processing methods. Variances and HACCP plans are required to be submitted together for a specialized food processing methods. In other instances, only a variance or a HACCP Plan is required. This handout will help you decide if you need to submit both a request for a variance and a HACCP plan. It will also provide circumstances when only a variance or a HACCP plan is needed. You will also find supporting information from the Houston Food Ordinance, a waiver instruction sheet, and information on how to submit a request for a Variance/Exemption.
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Page last reviewed: September 23, 2025