PermitDueRestaurant Permits in Texas: Every License You Need
March 21, 2026 · Daniel Amar·Last updated: March 21, 2026
Texas restaurants need more permits than you think
I pulled the full permit list for restaurants across Texas and the count surprised me. A sit-down restaurant in Houston that serves alcohol needs somewhere between 12 and 16 separate permits from at least 5 different agencies. A small cafe with no booze still needs 8 to 10.
The good news: Texas has no state-level business license. The bad news: your city, county, and half a dozen state agencies all want their own paperwork. And they do not coordinate with each other, so you are tracking separate applications, separate fees, and separate renewal dates.
Here is every permit a Texas restaurant needs, who issues it, what it costs, and how long it takes. I have focused on the big metro areas (Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio) since that is where most of the complexity lives.
The permits every Texas restaurant needs
| Permit | Issuing Agency | Cost | Renewal | Processing Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Food Establishment Permit | Texas DSHS | $258-$773 | Annual | 2-4 weeks |
| City Business License / Business Tax Certificate | City Finance Dept | $50-$500 | Annual | 1-2 weeks |
| Sales Tax Permit | Texas Comptroller | Free | None (permanent) | 1-3 days online |
| Certified Food Manager Certificate | ANSI-accredited provider | $80-$150 | Every 5 years | 1 day (exam) |
| Food Handler Certificates (all staff) | DSHS-approved provider | $10-$15 per person | Every 2 years | Same day |
| Certificate of Occupancy | City Building Dept | $100-$500 | One-time | 2-6 weeks |
| Fire Inspection / Fire Marshal Permit | City Fire Marshal | $50-$300 | Annual | 1-4 weeks |
| Sign Permit | City Planning Dept | $25-$200 | One-time | 1-3 weeks |
| Building Permit (if renovating) | City Building Dept | $200-$5,000+ | One-time | 2-8 weeks |
| Federal EIN | IRS | Free | None (permanent) | Instant online |
| Workers Comp Insurance | Licensed carrier | Varies by payroll | Annual | 1-3 days |
If you serve alcohol, add the TABC permits on top. A Mixed Beverage Permit runs $6,281 for a two-year term. A Food and Beverage Certificate (required alongside the MB) is another $381. See our full breakdown of Texas liquor license costs for all the TABC license types.
The DSHS health permit: your most important one
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) regulates all retail food establishments statewide. You need their Retail Food Establishment Permit before you open.
The fee depends on your gross annual food sales:
- Under $150,000 in sales: $258
- $150,000 to $500,000: $500
- Over $500,000: $773
New restaurants start at the lowest tier and get reassessed after their first year of operation.
The application goes through the DSHS Regulatory Services online portal. Before they issue the permit, an inspector visits your location and checks everything: food storage temperatures, handwash sink placement, the three-compartment sink, pest control, ventilation, and about 50 other items from the Texas Food Establishment Rules.
If you fail the inspection, you get a list of violations and a reinspection date. Most issues are fixable in a few days. Critical violations (no hot water, active pest infestation, sewage problems) can delay you weeks.
One thing to know: the DSHS permit does not replace your city or county health permit. Some cities (Houston, Dallas, Austin) run their own health departments and require a separate local food permit on top of the state one. Others defer to DSHS entirely. Check with your city before assuming one permit covers everything.
City-specific requirements
Houston
Houston's Health Department requires its own food establishment permit. The fee depends on your square footage and type of operation. Plan on $200 to $425 per year for the city health permit alone, plus the DSHS state permit.
Houston also requires a Certificate of Occupancy from the Public Works Department and a separate fire inspection from the Houston Fire Department. The city business license (called a Business Tax Certificate) is handled by the City Controller's Office.
Total city-level fees in Houston for a typical restaurant: roughly $600 to $1,200 before you count the state permits.
Dallas
Dallas runs a detailed permitting process through its Code Compliance department. Their health permit fees are tiered: $100 pre-inspection, $200 plan review, $300 application, and then the annual permit ($350 for spaces under 2,000 sq ft, $425 for larger). That is $950+ before you open.
Dallas also requires a Certificate of Occupancy, fire inspection, and building permits for any tenant improvements. If you are in an area with a public improvement district (PID), there may be additional assessments.
Austin
Austin's food permits are handled by Austin Public Health. The city charges $300 to $500 for a food establishment permit depending on the operation type. Austin also has strict outdoor dining rules if you want a patio, and their sign permit process is notoriously slow (4 to 6 weeks is common).
The Austin building permit process for restaurant buildouts can take 6 to 12 weeks. The city's permitting office has been backlogged for years. Budget extra time if you are doing any construction.
San Antonio
San Antonio's Metro Health department handles food permits locally. Fees are similar to Houston ($200-$400/year). The city is generally faster on inspections than Austin or Dallas, with most food permits issued within 2 to 3 weeks of application.
The Certified Food Manager requirement
Texas law requires every food establishment under DSHS jurisdiction to employ at least one Certified Food Manager (CFM). This person must pass an ANSI-CFP accredited exam (ServSafe is the most common). The exam costs $80 to $150 and certification is valid for 5 years.
You do not need to be the CFM yourself. You can designate a manager or head chef. But someone with the certification must be on duty during all operating hours. If your CFM quits, you have 60 days to get someone else certified or the DSHS can suspend your food permit.
Food handler cards for all employees
Separate from the CFM, every employee who handles food must have a food handler certificate. Texas law caps the cost at $15, and most online courses take 2 hours. New hires have 60 days to complete the training.
This is per person, per location. If you have 20 employees, that is 20 food handler cards you need to track, each with its own expiration date (every 2 years). It is exactly the kind of thing that is easy to let slide until an inspector shows up and starts asking for certificates.
Permits you might not know about
Grease trap permit: Most Texas cities require restaurants to install and maintain a grease trap, and some require a separate permit for it. Houston charges $50 to $150 annually for grease trap inspection.
Music/entertainment license: If you play music (even background Spotify), you technically need licenses from ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC. These are not government permits but they are legally required. The cost is $300 to $1,500 per year depending on your venue size and how you use music.
Patio/outdoor dining permit: If you want sidewalk seating or a patio that extends into public space, you need a separate permit from your city. Austin and Dallas both require these, and the rules around pedestrian clearance, insurance, and ADA compliance are specific.
Dumpster enclosure permit: Some cities in Texas require a permit for your dumpster enclosure placement if it is visible from the street or near a residential area.
Total cost: what to budget
For a typical sit-down restaurant in a major Texas city, here is a realistic permit budget for your first year:
- DSHS health permit: $258-$773
- City health permit (if required): $200-$950
- City business license: $50-$500
- Fire inspection: $50-$300
- Certificate of occupancy: $100-$500
- Building permit (if renovating): $200-$5,000+
- Sign permit: $25-$200
- Food manager certification: $80-$150
- Food handler cards (10 staff): $100-$150
- Sales tax permit: Free
- EIN: Free
Total without alcohol: $1,063 to $8,523 depending on your city and renovation scope.
Add alcohol (TABC Mixed Beverage + Food and Beverage Certificate): +$6,662 for the first two years.
Get your full Texas restaurant permit list
Use the free permit checker to see every permit your Texas restaurant needs. Pick your city, pick "Restaurant," and get the full checklist with .gov links and costs. Already open? Check our Texas business license guide to make sure nothing is missing.
If you are worried about tracking all these renewal dates, that is exactly what the PermitDue dashboard does. Reminders at 90, 60, 30, and 7 days out, plus a compliance packet you can share with your landlord or insurer.