Inspections; reports.
Houston Code of Ordinances § 20-20
in effectSec. 20-20. - Inspections; reports.
(a) The health officer shall inspect each food establishment within the city at least once every 12 months or more often based on the processes of the operation and compliance history, except that risk category 1 food establishments shall be inspected at least once every 24 months, and the health officer shall make as many additional inspections as are necessary based on the public health risks posed by the establishment and the establishment's past compliance history. Inspections may also be made where consumer complaints and/or reports of foodborne illness outbreaks evidence a need to perform inspections.
(b) The report of inspection shall state that failure to comply with any time limits for corrections will require that the establishment immediately cease food service operations.
(c) Whenever a reinspection is required by the health officer to determine that conditions responsible for the reinspection no longer exist, the permit holder shall pay the reinspection fee stated for this provision in the city fee schedule, and the permit or permits shall not be renewed until the permit holder has paid any outstanding reinspection fees. The health officer shall conduct a reinspection within a reasonable period of time.
(d) Whenever a food establishment is required to cease operations under the provisions of this section, it shall not resume operations until a reinspection determines that conditions responsible for the requirement to cease operations no longer exist. The health officer shall conduct a reinspection within a reasonable period of time.
(Ord. No. 99-1346, § 1, 12-15-99; Ord. No. 02-528, § 13a., 6-19-02; Ord. No. 07-1051, § 2(Exh. A), 9-12-07; Ord. No. 2010-1016, § 2, 12-15-2010; Ord. No. 2011-1168, § 13, 12-14-2011; Ord. No. 2015-1202, § 12, 12-2-2015; Ord. No. 2025-743, § 7, 8-27-2025)
Source: City of Houston, Code of Ordinances and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/houston/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH20FODR_ARTIIFOESGE_DIV1GE_S20-20INREFetched: 10/26/2026