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PERMITS AND PLANS REVIEW

Fort Worth City Code ch. 16, art. IV, div. 2
in effect

Fort Worth City Code § 16-111 FOOD ESTABLISHMENT PERMITS - GENERAL REQUIREMENTS.

§ 16-111 FOOD ESTABLISHMENT PERMITS - GENERAL REQUIREMENTS. (a) No person shall operate a food establishment without a current, valid food establishment permit issued by the department. (b) A separate permit shall be required for every food establishment with separate and distinct facilities and operations, whether situated in the same building or at separate locations. Separate and distinct lounge operations within a food establishment that are in addition to food operations require a separate permit. Multiple lounges on the same floor in the same building and under the same liquor license will not require a separate permit. (c) Permits issued under the provisions of this article are not transferable. A permit shall be valid for the period of time shown on the face of the permit, unless earlier suspended or revoked by the director. (d) The application for a new or a renewed permit shall be made on an application form prescribed by the director. (1) At a minimum the application shall require the applicant's name, type of business organization, the name and address of the owner or principal officer of the business, the nature of the business, the location of the business, and such other information as the Director deems necessary. (2) Applications for permits for mobile food units or temporary event establishments which operate from a fixed food facility located outside of the city shall include a copy of the facility's current, valid, permit (state or local) and the most recent facility inspection report (state or local). (e) The department may not renew an expired or expiring permit until the owner or operator of the food establishment provides proof of compliance with current minimum department requirements. (f) The owner or operator of a food establishment shall post and maintain the current permit in a conspicuous public place in the establishment for which the permit was issued. (g) Upon change of ownership of a business, the new owner shall be required to meet current food establishment standards as defined in this code and state law before a permit will be issued by the department. (h) The following types of establishments are exempt from the requirements of this article: (1) Group homes; (2) Establishments selling only commercially packaged, non-TCS Foods; (3) Vending machines selling non-TCS Food items; (4) Nonprofit facilities, except that nonprofit facilities are not exempt when food service is provided in conjunction with a childcare facility, retirement center, hospital, school, indigent feeding program or public fundraising events; and (5) Private schools that do not have a kitchen. (i) Criminal offenses. (1) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly owns, operates or is in control of a food establishment that is operating without a valid food establishment permit. (2) A person commits an offense if the person owns or operates a food establishment and knowingly fails to post and maintain a permit in accordance with subsection (f) above. (Ord. 12553, § 1, passed 6-18-1996; Ord. 27523-03-2025, § 1, passed 3-11-2025, eff. 4-18-2025)

Fort Worth City Code § 16-112 CLASSIFICATION OF PERMITS.

§ 16-112 CLASSIFICATION OF PERMITS. Food establishment permits shall be classified according to the duration of operation and location of such operation. (a) The duration of a permit shall fall within one of three categories, either annual, temporary or seasonal, as follows: (1) Annual. An establishment that operates throughout the year; (2) Temporary. An establishment that operates 14 consecutive days or fewer, in conjunction with a special event; and (3) Seasonal. An establishment that operates more than 14 consecutive days but less than 180 days each year, and not associated with a special event. (b) The location classification of a permit shall fall within one of two categories, either fixed or mobile, as follows. (1) Fixed food establishments. a. Food service establishment: restaurants, cafeterias, snack bars, bakeries, snow cone stands, caterer's central preparation facilities, private school cafeterias, halfway house food services, hospital kitchens/cafeterias, institutional food services, etc., where food is prepared and served; b. Retail food stores handling prepackaged, TCS foods; c. Retail food stores handling, processing or selling open foods; d. Food warehouses/wholesalers; e. Farmer's markets/produce stands; f. Bars/lounges; and g. Bed and breakfast establishments. (2) Mobile food units. a. Retail food unit handling prepackaged food; b. Retail food unit (including trailers, mobile barbecues, snow cone units, etc.) handling, processing or selling open food. A separate permit is required for each different type of mobile unit owned or operated by an individual or company; c. Mobile produce unit; d. Mobile units delivering or selling meat, poultry, fish, sea foods or shellfish (except retail grocery delivery trucks and units that are otherwise prohibited by this article). Except for wholesale fish truckers, any person who operates, sells or engages in the distribution of any meat, poultry, fish, sea foods or shellfish in the city shall operate from a fixed and permitted place of businesses. Roadside vending of meat, poultry, fish, sea foods or shellfish shall not be permitted in the city; e. Pushcarts; and f. Catering units. (Ord. 12553, § 1, passed 6-18-1996; Ord. 27523-03-2025, § 1, passed 3-11-2025, eff. 4-18-2025)

Fort Worth City Code § 16-113 PERMIT DENIAL, SUSPENSION AND REVOCATION.

§ 16-113 PERMIT DENIAL, SUSPENSION AND REVOCATION. (a) The director may deny a permit, or after notice and hearing suspend or revoke a permit for failure to comply with the requirements of this article or any state law adopted by this article. (b) Notice of a permit denial shall be served upon the owner or operator of the food establishment either in person or by certified mail, return receipt requested, at the mailing address specified in the permit application. Notice of a hearing to suspend or revoke a license shall be sent in accordance with § 16-150 of this article. (c) When the director revokes or suspends a food establishment permit, the director may require: (1) All food handlers employed by the establishment to satisfy the training requirements for initial certification as a food handler; and (2) All managerial and supervisory personnel employed at such location to satisfy the training requirements for initial certification as a food manager. (Ord. 12553, § 1, passed 6-18-1996; Ord. 27523-03-2025, § 1, passed 3-11-2025, eff. 4-18-2025)

Fort Worth City Code § 16-114 SUBMISSION AND REVIEW OF PLANS.

§ 16-114 SUBMISSION AND REVIEW OF PLANS. (a) When a food establishment is newly constructed or extensively remodeled, or when an existing structure is converted to use as a food establishment, properly prepared plans and specifications for such construction, remodeling or conversion shall be submitted to the development services department for review and approval before construction, remodeling or conversion is begun. (b) If a food establishment is not required to obtain a building permit from the development services department under (a), then the director may conduct an onsite plan review in lieu of the food establishment submitting plans and specifications to the development services department. (c) The plans and specifications under (a) shall indicate the proposed layout, arrangement, mechanical plans, types of construction materials in work areas and the type and model of proposed fixed equipment to be installed. The director of the development services department shall give the department the opportunity to review and approve the plans and specifications to determine if they meet the requirements of this article. No food establishment shall be constructed, extensively remodeled or converted except in accordance with plans and specifications approved by the department. Food facility owners/operators shall ensure during plans review, construction and operation that their facilities comply with all applicable city plumbing, mechanical, electrical, building, zoning and fire prevention and protection codes. (d) The director shall inspect the food establishment prior to the start of operations to determine compliance with the approved plans and specifications, the requirements of this article and the regulations of the Texas Department of State Health Services. (Ord. 12553, § 1, passed 6-18-1996; Ord. 17522, §§ 5, 6, passed 4-24-2007; Ord. 27523-03-2025, § 1, passed 3-11-2025, eff. 4-18-2025)

Fort Worth City Code § 16-115 FEES.

§ 16-115 FEES. (a) The city council shall adopt a schedule of fees for: (1) Food establishment permits, including an additional fee for the reissuance of a permit after its expiration; (2) Re-inspection; (3) Plans review; (4) Change of ownership; and (5) Pre-permit requests for services. (b) The department may not issue a permit until all requisite fees have been paid. (Ord. 12553, § 1, passed 6-18-1996; Ord. 12707, § 1, passed 10-8-1996; Ord. 25772-09-2022, § 1, passed 9-27-2022, eff. 10-1-2022; Ord. 27523-03-2025, § 1, passed 3-11-2025, eff. 4-18-2025)

Fort Worth City Code § 16-116 PREPERMIT REQUESTS FOR SERVICES.

§ 16-116 PREPERMIT REQUESTS FOR SERVICES. Department staff members may respond to requests to determine whether a property is suitable for development as a food service facility. The requestor shall pay the department a pre-permit site evaluation fee, at a rate established by the city council. (Ord. 12553, § 1, passed 6-18-1996; Ord. 27523-03-2025, § 1, passed 3-11-2025, eff. 4-18-2025)
Source: City of Fort Worth, Code of Ordinances, City Charter and Zoning Ordinance (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/ftworth/latest/ftworth_tx/0-0-0-19109Fetched: 10/26/2026

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