Retail Food Establishments

Food safety is serious business in Texas. We strive to eliminate foodborne illness in the Lone Star State through personal and professional excellence. This endeavor requires the help of all public health regions, state and federal agencies, local and city health departments, private industry, and the public.  

Through teamwork and diligent effort, we can accomplish our mission:  

"To protect the public health through the efficient operation of a comprehensive, progressive retail food protection program focusing on education, training, and oversight, which will ultimately reduce the potential for foodborne illness in Texas." 

• The FDA is advising consumers not to eat, and restaurants and food retailers not to sell, and to dispose of recalled wild harvest oysters from FL-3012, Cedar Key, Florida, harvested between December 16, 2022, and February 24, 2023, due to possible Salmonella contamination.
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• The FDA is advising consumers not to eat, and restaurants and food retailers not to sell, and to dispose of oysters that were harvested between January 16, 2023 and February 17, 2023, from Deep Bay subarea 14-8 landfiles #0278744, #0278742, #0278741, #0278740, #1414396, #0319716, #1414456, #1414457, #1400483, #1411206, #1407063, #1408485, #0278739, #0278737, #1403139, #0278734, #1411153, and #1411195 in British Columbia, Canada. Consumers who purchased oysters after January 16, 2023 should check the packaging to see if they were harvested in Deep Bay from the affected landfiles of subarea 14-8, landfiles #0278744, #0278742, #0278741, #0278740, #1414396, #0319716, #1414456, #1414457, #1400483, #1411206, #1407063, #1408485, #0278739, #0278737, #1403139, #0278734, #1411153, and #1411195.
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The below map is an online resource that enables visitors to quickly search health departments within the State of Texas.  

Texas allows “home-rule” charter government in the state. Charters are documents that establish the governmental structure and determine the distribution of powers and duties among its branches.  

Home rule charters allow cities and counties to do anything that qualifies as a "public purpose" and is not contrary to the constitution or laws of the state. Cities or counties with active charters have regulatory authority in those areas. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) provides the minimum standards for food safety in the state with the Texas Food Establishment Rules (TFER). However, cities and counties with active charters may enforce more stringent rules and regulations. 

For questions about the map, please see the step-by-step instructions below or contact the Retail Food Establishments Program. 

Instructions 

Please follow these instructions to use the interactive map: 

1. Navigate to the Texas Retail Food Establishments Jurisdiction Interactive Map. 

2. Click the + button on the toolbar to zoom in 

3. Click on different zones on the map to view information about each geographic location. 

4. Click the "star" or "triangle" symbols to view DSHS Public Health Region office information. 

5. Click a city or county boundary to view jurisdiction contact information for the location. 

For more detailed instructions, please see the full User Guide for the Texas Retail Food Establishments Jurisdiction Interactive Map. 

Food service establishments are classified in the following areas: 

• Retail Food Establishments 

• Food Stores 

• Mobile Food Units 

• Roadside Food Vendors 

• School Food Establishments 

• Temporary Retail Food Establishments 

See the Permitting Information page for descriptions of each establishment type and an overview of licensing options and associated fees. 

For information about food manufacturing, warehousing and wholesaling, see Food Manufacturers, Wholesalers, and Warehouses.