Food Establishment Permitting

The Environmental Division of the Wichita Falls-Wichita County Public Health District permits retail food establishments (including mobile food establishments), daycare kitchens (excluding home daycares), school kitchens, hospital kitchens, nursing home kitchens, and temporary food events in Wichita County. The Environmental Division of the Wichita Falls-Wichita County Public Health District does NOT permit Food Establishments that fall under the Texas Cottage Food Law. There are currently over 800 Food Establishments that are inspected routinely throughout the year by Health Inspectors. Food Establishments are classified by Processes:

Process 1 - low to moderate risk
This process involves food sale with or without preparation and includes no cooking. Generally, the steps in this process are:
Receive - Store - Prepare - Hold - Serve - Vend - Stock.

Process 2 - moderate to high risk
This process involves food preparation for same day service. Generally, the steps in this process are:
Receive - Store - Prepare - Cook - Hold - Serve.

Process 3 - very high risk
This process involves complex food preparation. Generally, the steps in this process are:
Receive - Store - Prepare - Cook - Cool - Reheat - Hot Hold - Serve

Employees of Food Establishments that are permitted annually by the Health District are required to have one or more of the following certifications:

1. A food handler card for every employee that takes part in food handling processes (receiving, cashiers, dishwashers, servers, cooks, etc.) as required in the Texas Food Establishment Rules. Temporary Events are required to have at least one food handler card member present during the event.
2. At least one Certified Food Manager for Food Establishments that cook/reheat as of the October 2015 Texas Food Establishment Rules. 
3. At least one employee with a Soft Serve Certification for establishments that have a Soft Serve (ice cream, yogurt, etc.) machine as required by local ordinances.

No annually permitted establishment shall allow temporary event food vending at their site unless a temporary event application has been approved by the regulatory authority.

To file a complaint on a Food Establishment or an illegal food operation, please call 940-761-7820.

Examples of illegal food operations:
-Operating a Food Establishment that does not fall under the Texas Cottage Food Law without a permit
-Selling cooked food and/or temperature control for safety foods that does not fall under the Texas Cottage Food Law to the public without a permit
-Giving away cooked food and/or temperature control for safety foods that does not fall under the Texas Cottage Food Law to the public without a permit