Retail & Temporary Food Inspection Program

All retail food establishments—such as restaurants, childcare kitchens, convenience stores, and grocery stores—are inspected at least once annually. Inspection frequency, reports, and methods are based on criteria from the Texas Food Establishment Rules (TFER) and the City of Arlington Health and Sanitation Ordinance, Article IV.

Food Codes and Guidelines

• Texas Statutes and Laws for Retail Food Establishments
• Guidance Documents and General Publications
• Retail Food Protection
• City of Arlington Health Ordinance(PDF, 40MB)
• Regulatory Clarifications
•  TDSHS Guidance Publications in English
• TDSHS Guidance Publications in Spanish
• Emergency Guidance Documents
• FDA Employee Health Policy Tool

Food Allergen Awareness

Texas Senate Bill 812, requires all food establishments to post a Food Allergen Awareness Poster.  Request a free poster from your health inspector or print your own from the links below. 

• Food Allergen Awareness Poster - English(PDF, 379KB)
• Food Allergen Awareness Poster - Spanish(PDF, 518KB)
• Food Allergen Awareness Poster - Vietnamese(PDF, 542KB)

HACCP

A Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan is required for certain types of food processes.  Contact your inspector for more information. 

• Hazards Analysis and Critical Control Check Points (HACCP) Plan Review Checklist(PDF, 200KB)

Understanding Food Establishments Inspection Scores

• A perfect score is 100, and a score of 70 or below is considered extremely poor.
• If an establishment earns 75 or less, a scored reinspection will be conducted.
• If an establishment earns 76 or higher but has critical violations, an unscored follow-up may be conducted.
• Establishments with violations that pose an imminent health hazard may be closed by the City of Arlington Health Division until the issue is resolved, regardless of overall score.
• Change of Ownership and Complaint Inspections do not result in a score.

To search for a specific facility, visit the Food Establishment Scores Data Center using the link below.

Food Establishment Scores

New or Remodeled Food Establishments:

Submit commercial building plans for review to ensure compliance with building and health code regulations. A Health Final inspection must be completed and pass prior to requesting a Building Final. 

A Certificate of Occupancy must be issued, and a permitting inspection must be passed before a Health Permit to open for business will be issued. 

Existing Food Establishments:

Health Permits are non-transferable.  In the event of a change of ownership, the new owner must apply for a new Certificate of Occupancy and Health Permit and pass a permitting inspection before operating. 

Commercial Building Permits and Certificates of Occupancy must be applied for online:

 ArlingtonPermits.com

Temporary or Seasonal Food Establishment Permit

To avoid late fees, apply for the Temporary Food Establishment Permit at least 10 days prior to the first day of the event. Application and operational information can be found in the following documents.

• Guidelines for Temporary and Seasonal Food Establishments(PDF, 58KB)
• Quick Reference for Temporary Food Establishments(PDF, 59KB)
• Sample-Drawing-of-Booth-Layout.pdf(PDF, 463KB)
• Texas Food Establishment Rules under Subchapter H, "Requirements Applicable to Certain Establishments".  

Temporary Food Establishment Permits are not required for the sale or distribution of pre-packaged, non-potentially hazardous foods such as shelf stable bottles of water or soda, bags of chips, or whole, uncut fruits and vegetables. However, pre-packaged food products must comply with labeling requirements at the FDA U.S. Food and Drug Administration Code of Federal Regulations.

Apply for Temporary or Seasonal Permit

ArlingtonPermits.com

Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)

To provide prepared meals to children during school breaks as a Summer Food Service Program provider, your organization must meet all requirement outlined on the Texas Department of Agriculture Summer Meal website and register with City of Arlington's Health Services as a Summer Food Service Program Organization.

Permitting information can be found in the following document:

• Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Information(PDF, 709KB)

Register your SFSP Organization and Apply for Permit 

 www.ArlingtonPermits.com

Mobile Food Vendor Permitting Changes

House Bill 2878, passed by the 88th Texas State Legislature, shifts all permitting and inspection authority for mobile food vendors operating under an annual permit to Tarrant County Public Health (TCPH).

Click the link to read the full text of HB 2878 

Effective September 1, 2023, the City of Arlington will no longer issue annual permits for mobile food vendors. However, operators are still required to comply with all applicable city zoning and ordinance requirements and return to their commissary daily.

• City Ordinances can be found by visiting the City Code of Ordinances.
• For zoning restrictions, contact Planning at 817-459-6502.
• For fire code requirements, contact Fire Prevention at 817-459-5539.

Obtaining an Annual Mobile Food Vendor/Truck Permit

• For more information about obtaining a mobile vending permit, visit Tarrant County Inspections.
• To verify a mobile vendor’s permit status or to file a complaint, visit Tarrant County Public Health or call 817-248-6299.
• To look up mobile vendor inspections for those operating under an annual permit, please visit Tarrant County Public Health.

Stationary Pushcart

Stationary pushcart operations are permitted by TCPH however, operations within the City of Arlington are restricted by zoning regulations.  To check city zoning requirements, call 817-459-6502 and speak with the Planner of the Day.  All mobile units including stationary pushcarts are required to report back to the central preparation facility/commissary at the conclusion of every business day.

For more information about obtaining a stationary pushcart permit, visit Tarrant County Inspections. To verify a stationary pushcart's permit status or file a complaint against a stationary pushcart vendor please visit Tarrant County Public Health or call 817-248-6299.

Resources:

• Mobile Commissary Letter(PDF, 139KB)

Obtaining a Temporary Mobile Food Unit Permit

Permitting and inspection of temporary food vendors, including temporary mobile food vendors, is conducted by City of Arlington Health Services.  For more information about obtaining a temporary mobile permit, click the link below. 

Temporary Mobile Food Unit(PDF, 138KB)

To determine what type of permit you may need, click the guidance link below. 

House Bill 2878 Guidance Document(PDF, 908KB)

Catering Permit

For more information about obtaining a catering permit, click the link below.

Requirements For Catering Vehicles(PDF, 336KB)

Ice Cream Truck Permit 

For more information about obtaining an ice cream truck permit, click the link below.

Ice Cream Truck Requirements(PDF, 154KB)

Apply for Temporary Mobile, Catering or Ice Cream Truck Permit

ArlingtonPermits.com

Annual Farmers Market permit fee is $100, Non-refundable, non-transferable. To avoid late fees, apply for the Farmers Market Permit at least 10 days prior to the first day of operation. Temporary food vendors who are not farmers or food producers may still be eligible to obtain a permit to sell at a farmers' market under a temporary or seasonal food establishment permit types.  Additional information can be found in the following documents.

• Guidelines for Temporary and Seasonal Food Establishments(PDF, 58KB)
• Quick Reference for Temporary Food Establishments(PDF, 59KB)
• Texas Food Establishment Rules under Subchapter H, "Requirements Applicable to Certain Establishments".  

Health Permits are not required for the sale or distribution of pre-packaged, non-potentially hazardous foods such as shelf stable bottles of water or soda, bags of chips, or whole, uncut fruits and vegetables. However, pre-packaged food products must comply with labeling requirements at the FDA U.S. Food and Drug Administration Code of Federal Regulations.

Regulations 

• Foods produced in a residential kitchen may not be distributed to the public unless qualifying under the Texas Cottage Food Law.  All commercial kitchens must hold a current health permit.
• Labeling requirements must follow the FDA U.S. Food and Drug Administration Code of Federal Regulations
• Vendors must comply with City of Arlington Ordinances and Texas Food Establishment Rules. 

Food Manufacturer's License

• If vendors are preparing and packaging foods for distribution, the Food Manufacturer's License may still be required.
• Vendors can contact the State directly at 512-834-6626 or 6670, or reach the local office at 1301 S. Bowen Rd., Suite #200, Arlington, TX 76013, by phone at 817-264-4500.
• For email inquiries, contact wdeveloper@dshs.state.tx.us.

Cottage Food Law Production Operation

Cottage food production operations are regulated by the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) under the Texas Administrative Code Rule 229.661. Please review the requirements and restrictions found under the DSHS website if you believe that your food business qualifies as a cottage food production operation.

To learn about setting up a cottage food production operation of your own, consider the online course provided by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, "Cooking Up a Cottage Food Business".

A residential kitchen may not operate as a food establishment or to store, prepare, or package food for human consumption on behalf of a food establishment.

Apply for Farmer's Market Permit

ArlingtonPermits.com