Food Personnel Requirements

Food handlers and Food Managers are no longer required to register their course completion with the City of Austin.

An employee who who prepares or handles food must complete a Food Handler training course (classroom or online) accredited either through the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or the State of Texas.

Establishments are responsible for ensuring employees undergo training at the proper intervals and are required to maintain a record of the training for each employee at the establishment. Food handlers are no longer required to register course completion with the City of Austin.

All food establishments are required to have at least one employee with a Food Manager Certification. The food manager certificate must be posted in prominent location at the establishment.

To obtain certification, the employee must pass a certified food manager exam from any Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) approved training source such as a Certification Training Program, Test Site, Online Exam or National Exam provider.

In Travis County: The same Certified Food Manager and Certified Food Handler regulations.

The Food Protection system promotes health and prevents disease through education, training, and regulation, in partnership with operators and employees of the nearly 5,000 food service establishments in Austin and Travis County.

These include restaurants, grocery stores, bars, mobile vendors, food manufacturers, food warehouses, coffee bars, bakeries, convenience stores, and some childcare centers. All food establishments should be inspected twice each year to assure food is being handled properly from the moment it is received through service to the consumer. If unable to be inspected at this frequency, then inspections will be prioritized by risk.

Inspectors observe kitchen workers' food handling practices, assure equipment is working properly, take food temperatures, inspect refrigerators and storage areas, and assure proper water temperatures, use of sanitizers and rodent and insect control. Any problem found is documented on the inspection form and the manager is taught the procedure or method to correct the problem.

Inspectors issue permits, provide education to food workers, and review restaurant plans. Staff also investigate food borne illness outbreaks and participate in product recalls.

Restaurant Inspection Scores

Click here to search for a restaurant’s score or visit our data portal to view restaurant scores for inspections performed within the last three years.

Home Prepared Food is Prohibited

Except for those businesses that meet the requirements of a Cottage Food Industry, home preparation of food for public consumption is prohibited.

Cottage Food Industry

A cottage food production operation is not required to have a City of Austin food permit. Before operating a food business check with other City of Austin Departments to determine if there are laws or ordinances, such as zoning that will affect your business.

City Code:  Austin City Food Code 10-3-31

Food Handler:  Accredited Training

Food Manager:  Certified Testing and Training Sites

County Regulation:  Travis County Code, Chapter 247--Food Establishment Permits'