Restaurant permits — Texas
The stack below is the state framework: the food permit, who issues it, whether plan review stands in front of your build-out, and the certificate layer for your team. Where Texas hands a number to your county, the page says so and names the office — that honesty is the product.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Food establishment permit | Issued at state-or-county level. Fee: Set by the issuing office — No single state fee — permits are issued by your city/county health department where one exists, otherwise by Texas DSHS; the issuing office sets the fee locally.. |
| Plan review | Required before build-out — drawings first, construction second. |
| Certificate of occupancy | Certificate of occupancy / certificate of use from the local building department is usually required before the food permit is issued; confirm zoning allows a restaurant use first. |
| Fire & signs | Fire inspection, fire-suppression (hood/Ansul) sign-off, and sign permits are separate and issued locally by the fire marshal and city/county — never part of the state food permit. |
| Grease / wastewater | Grease interceptor/trap sizing and approval is local (building/plumbing or wastewater); many cities also require a FOG (fats, oils, grease) permit and service records. |
Local plan review if new or remodeled → apply for the food establishment permit with your city/county health department (or DSHS) → have the certified food manager certificate and employee handler certificates on file → pass the pre-opening inspection → permit issued
Food handler cards: mandated statewide — All food employees — anyone working with unpackaged food, food equipment/utensils, or food-contact surfaces (Texas Food Establishment Rules §228.31), within 30 days of starting, valid 2 years. Typical cost $6–$16.
Certified Food Protection Manager: required — A certified food manager must be present during all hours of operation. Accredited exam cost runs $36–$175. Texas requires certified food manager coverage whenever the establishment is open — most restaurants need more than one certified manager on staff to cover all shifts.
Don't read the table — run your verdict. This stack, ordered for your format and space — plus the Cert Checker for your exact team.
Texas, every door: Texas hub · sell from home in Texas · Texas restaurant permits · Texas liquor license · what it costs · your Opening Map
Included in the $49 Opening Pack: the filled templates, trackers, calendars and worksheets for this door — built from the same dated datasets as the free checker above.
The fee is set by the issuing office in Texas — No single state fee — permits are issued by your city/county health department where one exists, otherwise by Texas DSHS; the issuing office sets the fee locally. Anyone quoting you a single statewide number is guessing.
At state-or-county level — the Food establishment permit comes from there, and that office runs your pre-opening inspection.
Sources: Texas Food Establishment Rules 25 TAC §228.31 via Texas DSHS / Corpus Christi Health District; FoodHandlerGear Texas guide. This row was verified against the primary source named below.. Dataset checked October 23, 2026. Where a fee or rule is set by a county or city, this page says so instead of guessing a number.