Whether you're dreaming of starting a community garden, curious about composting at home, hoping to start a food truck, or looking for ways to stretch your food budget, this resource hub is here to support you on your journey.

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Resources for new or established businesses

The Austin metropolitan food sector generates over $4 billion annually in economic activity and supports more than 40,000 jobs. Whether you're interested in opening your own food business, selling at a farmers market, or supporting more sustainable practices, the resources below can help on your journey.

Start a Food Business: Permitting, Funding, and More

 

Getting Starting

For general information on starting a business, visit the City of Austin’s Small Business Program. You’ll also need to become familiar with food retail requirements for the State of Texas and Austin-Travis County.

 

Permitting

Learn about general food safety requirements from the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Farmers markets permitting There may be different types of permits required based on what you plan to sell or sample at the market. Learn more about farmers market permit types and application information.
Food trucks and mobile vending permits Food trucks and mobile vendors must follow all state and municipal health and safety codes. Learn more about becoming a mobile food vendor.
Operating from your home (cottage food) permitting View requirements for Cottage Food production from the Texas Department of State Health Services. 

 

Funding

In addition to traditional commercial and business loans, explore these additional funding resources:

  • Family Business Loan Program: Low-interest loans for qualified small businesses that are expanding and creating jobs.
  • Veteran Business Loan Initiative: Low-interest rate loans and low-borrower equity requirements for qualified borrowers.
  • Community Development Financial Institutions, like PeopleFund, provide small business loans, assistance, and education to people with limited access to funding and resources.
  • Small Business Resources Directory: A comprehensive directory of small business resources offered by local, state, and federal governments and non-profit agencies. 

 

Additional Resources

The City of Austin offers many resources for business assistance. For more information, visit the Get Small Business Help page or call 512-974-7800.

Sell the Food You Grow: Start an Urban Farm

 

In Austin, less than 1% of the food we eat is locally grown. Support the local economy and a more sustainable and resilient community by starting an urban farm or market garden.

If you plan to sell the fruits of your labor, make sure you understand what is allowable under the Urban Farm Ordinance. Urban farms and market gardens are allowed in all zoning districts, but rules apply. Read on for details!

 

What's the difference between a market garden and an urban farm?

Market gardens and urban farms both describe spaces where food is grown with the purpose of being sold. The main difference relates to the size of the land being gardened. A market garden is no more than one acre, whereas an urban farm is defined as one to five acres.

 

Getting started

Before you begin, follow these steps to ensure that your land is properly permitted for growing and selling food:

  1. Change your land-use designation to allow for urban farming by applying for a Site Plan Exemption.
  2. Apply for a Building Permit. A permit is required regardless of whether or not there will be new construction.

Learn more about how the City of Austin Development Services Department can support you with these steps.

 

General guidelines for selling food you grow

Whether you are categorized as a market garden or urban farm, any lot that plans to grow and sell food is required to comply with the following guidelines:

  • Synthetic fertilizers and pesticides are not allowed. Follow an Integrated Pest Management Plan.
  • Follow water conservation rules for watering in accordance with Chapter 6-4 of the City Code.
  • The number of dwelling units allowed on site is determined by base zoning district regulations.
  • If you want to raise livestock, a dwelling is required on-site.
  • On-site processing or composting of livestock is not allowed.
  • Agricultural education activities do not require a temporary use permit.
  • Maintain the residential character of neighborhood on your lot.

 

Requirements for market gardens (under one acre)

Sales A farm-stand is not allowed, however on-site sales are permitted with a limit of three customers per day.
Employees One employee in addition to the owner is allowed.
Signs Signage must be non-electrified and no bigger than four square feet and no more than four feet above grade.
Structures A dwelling unit must be located on site.

 

Requirements for urban farms (1-5 acres)

Sales Products raised on the farm or produced in Texas may be sold on-site or distributed off-site. A farm-stand is permitted, but may sell no more than 20% of off-farm products.
Employees Two employees per acre are permitted in addition to the owner.
Signs Signage must be non-electrified and no bigger than eight square feet and no more than four feet above grade.
Structures Accessory structures are permitted without a dwelling unit on site.
Events The farm may receive up to six temporary permits for events per year.
Help End Food Waste: Strategies for Your Business

 

Did you know that 1.24 million pounds of food are wasted every day in the Austin area? At the same time, 16.2% of people in Travis County experience food insecurity.

The City of Austin requires food-permitted businesses to provide their employees convenient access to waste-reduction options that keep organic material out of the landfill. Across the nation, companies receive limited liability for food donations under the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act. 

Explore Austin Resource Recovery’s information for businesses on how to prevent food waste by donating food to people, feeding animals, or composting.

Who will take food donations?

  • Food pantries: Use findhelp.org to find a food pantry near you that accepts donations. Call ahead to make sure that the pantry can accept your donation and coordinate how and when it should be delivered or picked up.
  • Food banks: Contact Central Texas Food Bank to schedule a donation.
  • Food rescue programs: Programs like Keep Austin Fed may be able to help with donation logistics. 
Join the Sustainable Catering Database

 

Data is being collected to create a City of Austin Sustainable Catering Database. This resource helps City staff identify food vendors committed to green practices. By joining the database — and adopting more green practices — your business can help us achieve goals set out in our Austin Climate Equity Plan, Austin/Travis County Food Plan, and our zero-waste goal to reduce the amount of trash sent to landfills by 90% by the year 2040. 

Join the database today!

Please note: inclusion of a vendor in this database is not an endorsement by the City of Austin.

Resources for homes, schools, and neighborhoods

Food connects us all. From the places we shop to the meals we share, we all play a role in creating a more just and sustainable food system. Whether you're looking to build greener practices at your home, a local campus, or in your community, there are lots of ways to get involved.

Raising Chickens, Bees, Goats, and More

 

Keeping livestock — such as chickens, bees, and goats — is allowed in most residential areas in Austin. These animals offer many benefits for your home that include reducing food and yard waste, providing organic eggs or honey, minimizing backyard insects and pests, and producing fertilizer for your garden.

While there are many benefits to keeping livestock, there are certain restrictions you need to be aware of. The Austin City Code has limits on how many animals may be kept on a property, as well as where enclosures must be located.  Below are some general guidelines to help you understand Austin’s rules and regulations.

General Guidelines

  • Animals are not allowed to roam freely outside the owner’s property.
  • Livestock cannot make excessive noise and must be kept clean and healthy with adequate shelter.
  • Slaughtering, processing, and composting of livestock is not allowed in residential areas.

See Title 3 – Animal regulation of the City of Austin Codes and Ordinances for complete information.

 

Bees

  • Beehives should not be located within ten feet of your property line. The number of colonies you are allowed to keep is determined by your property’s acreage.
  • Depending on the location of your beehives, you may need to build a flyaway barrier, such as a wall, fence, or dense vegetation.
  • The City encourages the relocation of hives instead of destruction whenever possible. Visit the Texas Apiary Inspection Services for a list of registered beekeepers who can help.

Chickens

  • Enclosures for two or more chickens should be at least 30 feet from adjacent residences or businesses, excluding your home.
  • Check out Austin Resource Recovery's Chicken Keeping Guide and online Chicken Keeping Class.

Livestock

Such as horses, cows, pigs, sheep, and goats
  • Enclosures for one or two miniature livestock weighing less than 200 pounds need to be at least 10 feet from adjacent residences or businesses, excluding your home.
  • Enclosures for larger livestock, or for more than two animals should be at least 100 feet from adjoining residentially zoned property and at least 50 feet from residential structures.

Small Animals

Such as rabbits, gerbils, guinea pigs, etc.
  • Enclosures for two to ten small animals must be at least 20 feet from adjacent residences or businesses, excluding your home.
  • For ten or more small animals, enclosures should be at least 50 feet from adjacent residences or businesses.
Start a Community Garden

 

Community gardens are long-term stewardship projects where people come together to care for land. They include gardens with individual plots, food forests, community orchards, teaching gardens, and gardens that are communally tended.

The Community Gardens Program helps groups start new gardens and provides support for existing community gardens on city owned land. Non-profit program partners also provide vital support through grants, volunteer coordination, and liability insurance. Learn more about starting a community garden.

Learn About Composting and Lowering Food Waste at Home

 

Did you know that 1.24 million pounds of food are wasted every day in the Austin area? At the same time, 16.2% of people in Travis County experience food insecurity.

From composting to donating food, there are many ways to reduce food waste, but the impact of each method is not the same. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) created the Wasted Food Scale to help individuals and organizations make decisions for the greatest impact. 

The most important thing you can do to end food waste is to use the food you have. When you make a trip to the grocery store, plan ahead, shop smart, and purchase only what you and your household can eat. 

To get more involved in reducing food waste in Austin:

Find Funding for Your Food Project

 

The Bright Green Future Grants Program

The Bright Green Future Grants program is a competitive program that provides funding for school-based sustainability projects up to $3,000. The program was designed to recognize and support innovative projects that will inspire students to become lifelong environmental stewards. Projects selected to receive funding actively engage students and community members with hands-on involvement and learning. Learn more about the program and how to apply.

The Food & Climate Equity Grant Program

 The Food and Climate Equity (FACE) Grants program supports a more just and resilient Austin by providing $3,000 in direct funding for community-led solutions that enable transformative change in the areas of food, climate, and resilience. The program aims to uplift the experience of those most impacted by systemic and structural inequities, eliminate disparities in health outcomes, and improve quality of life for all. Learn more about the program and how to apply.
Learn About Growing Food at Schools

 

A school food garden is a vibrant outdoor space where students of all ages can learn to grow, harvest, and prepare fresh produce. The Central Texas School Garden Network helps schools create, sustain, promote, and activate campus green spaces for happier, healthier, and smarter kids. View the network's guide for food gardens on campus.

 

Find your seat at the table!

Learn more about how the City of Austin is supporting a more just and sustainable local food system by exploring the Austin/Travis County Food Plan.