The purpose of this ordinance update is to bring our ordinance into line with the Texas Department of State Health Services' Texas Food Establishment Rules (TFER), which were updated in 2021 and adopted the FDA Food Code 2017.  Additionally, we wish to clean up the ordinance and make it flow better for potential business owners.  Finally, we want to address new business models that have entered the market to allow food entrepreneurs an avenue to provide safe food to the public.  To view the current ordinance, proposed draft ordinance, TFER 2021, and FDA Food Code 2017 click the links below:

Current Ordinance

Proposed Draft Ordinance


TFER 2021

FDA Food Code 2017





If you have any feedback regarding the proposed ordinance changes, please click the link below:

Contact Us

  1. Contact Information

    Samantha Blair
    Environmental Administrator
    1700 Third St
    Wichita Falls, TX 76301

    Phone: (940) 761-7820
    Email: WFEnvironmentalHealth@
    wichitafallstx.gov

    Hours

    Monday - Friday
    8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

    Closed for lunch
    12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. 

Stakeholder Meetings:

The five stakeholder meeting locations, dates, and times can be found below. Meetings are scheduled in Wichita Falls, Electra, Burkburnett, and Iowa Park, TX. These meetings are one of the early steps in taking the changes to the various municipality’s city councils. All meetings will cover the same information. We look forward to working with our stakeholders through this process.

WFWCPHD, Clements Conference Room

Electra Community Center

Burkburnett Community Center

IP City Council Chambers

1700 3rd Street, Wichita Falls, TX 76301501 E Roosevelt, Electra, TX735 Davy Dr., Burkburnett, TX
101 E Cash, Iowa Park, TX
March 19, 2024 at 4:00 pmMarch 25, 2024 at 3:00 pmMarch 26, 2024 at 3:30 pm
March 28, 2024 at 3:30pm
March 22, 2024 at 10:00 am



New or Changed Definitions:

Bed and breakfast extended, bed and breakfast limited, caterer, off-premises catering function, central preparation facility, concession stand, cook-for-hire, delivery, farmer’s market, farmer’s market vendor, FDA Food Code, food contact surface, food establishment, frozen dessert (s), ghost kitchen (s), imminent hazard to public health, multi-departmental grocery store, mobile food unit, pop-up food vendor, retail food establishment (restricted operation), retail food establishment permit, retail food establishment mobile (restricted operation), retail food establishment mobile, sampling, sample permit, shared community kitchen, state rules, third-party delivery service, temporary event coordinator, temporary event, vend/vending

New Permit Types:

  1. Retail Food Establishment (Restricted Operation): Valid for 1 year.
  2. Retail Food Establishment: Valid for 1 year.
  3. Retail Food Establishment Mobile (Restricted Operation): Valid for 1 year.
  4. Retail Food Establishment Mobile: Valid for 1 year.
  5. Multi-departmental Grocery Store: Valid for 1 year.
    1. Which may include a combination of the following endorsements:
      1. Deli
      2. Snack Bar
      3. Bakery 
      4. Meat Market
      5. Fish Market
      6. Produce Market
      7. Other Department 
  6. Caterer: Valid for 1 year.
  7. Ghost Kitchen: Valid for 1 year.
  8. Pop-Up Food Vendor: Valid for 1 year.
  9. Shared Community Kitchen: Valid for 1 year.
  10. Frozen Dessert: Valid for 1 year.
  11. Sample Permit: Valid for the event duration not to exceed 14 days.
  12. Temporary Event Coordinator: Valid for the length of the event not to exceed 14 days.
  13. Temporary Event Permit: Valid for event duration not to exceed 14 days.
  14. Concession Stand: Valid for 1 year.
  15. Farmer’s Market: Valid for 1 year.
  16. Farmer’s Market Vendor: Valid for 1 year.

Other Changes:

The order of several items in the ordinance we changed to improve the flow. Some physical facilities standards copied over from TFER and Food Code to make them more accessible to business owners. Changes to the equipment standards. Certified Food Protection Manager is required on duty at all times. A hybrid score placarding system that uses QR codes instead of a posted letter grade. Temporary food event standards copied over from TFER. Mobile unit regulations aligned with TFER mobile unit requirements. Elimination of the “outdoor mobile food court” section. Changes to the frozen dessert standards to align with the state. Bed and breakfast regulations copied over from TFER.