PERMITS GENERALLY

San Antonio City Code ch. 13, art. II

in effect

San Antonio City Code § 13-21 Required for food establishments in the city.

Sec. 13-21. - Required for food establishments in the city. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a food establishment or rendering business in the city who does not possess a valid unsuspended or unrevoked permit from the department. No person/owner/operator shall, within the city, manufacture, sell, or offer or expose for sale, or have in possession with intent to sell, any food product without the proper permits. A person operating a temporary food establishment shall also be required to secure a permit before they shall be allowed to operate. (b) Charitable feeding activities are not considered a food establishment and do not require a permit under this chapter, except as otherwise set out in subsection 13-13(d) and provided that charitable feeding of five (5) or more individuals in one instance be conducted in accordance with section 13-13. (Ord. No. 2008-05-15-0402, § 1(Att. I), 5-15-08; Ord. No. 2015-12-17-1066, § 2, 12-17-15)

San Antonio City Code § 13-22 Filing application.

Sec. 13-22. - Filing application. Every person desiring a permit to establish, maintain, or operate a food establishment within the city shall make a written application stating the name and residence of the applicant if an individual, all the members of the firm if an association or partnership, the name or residence of the applicant, its officers and directors if a corporation, and the location and description of the premises where such food establishment is to be conducted, and file such application with the department. (Ord. No. 2008-05-15-0402, § 1(Att. I), 5-15-08; Ord. No. 2025-09-18-0629, § 2(Att. D), 9-18-25)

San Antonio City Code § 13-23 Investigation of application.

Sec. 13-23. - Investigation of application. It shall be the duty of the director upon the filing of such application to make or cause to be made an investigation of the premises and equipment and appliances to be used in connection therewith for the purpose of determining the fitness and suitability of such premises for a food establishment from a sanitary standpoint, and when such inspection shall have been completed, the director shall file with the department his recommendation for or against issuance of a permit. (Ord. No. 2008-05-15-0402, § 1(Att. I), 5-15-08)

San Antonio City Code § 13-24 Issuance of permit.

Sec. 13-24. - Issuance of permit. (a) If the director is satisfied that the premises, equipment and appliances where a food establishment is to be located, are proper and suitable from a sanitary standpoint, and meet all the requirements of the laws of the state or of the ordinances of the city relating to the conduct and operation of the business named in such application, he shall issue or cause to be issued a permit in accordance with such application, upon receipt of the permit fee provided by section 13-27. Permit fees are non-refundable. (b) No permit or license for the use, construction, reconstruction or repair of any building or structure used or to be used as a part of a rendering business shall be issued by any department of the city until the plan therefore shall show adequate means for carrying out the provisions of this chapter and until such plan shall have been approved by the director. (Ord. No. 2008-05-15-0402, § 1(Att. I), 5-15-08; Ord. No. 2025-09-18-0629, § 2(Att. D), 9-18-25)

San Antonio City Code § 13-25 Form, expiration.

Sec. 13-25. - Form, expiration. Permits for the operation of food establishments shall be issued under the corporate seal of the city, signed by the director, and shall authorize the person therein named to establish, maintain and operate a food establishment at the place designated in such permit. Such permit shall be required on an annual basis with October 1st being the first day of each permit year and shall be renewed in each successive year thereafter. The department may prorate the initial permit fee based on the date of initial issuance. (Ord. No. 2008-05-15-0402, § 1(Att. I), 5-15-08; Ord. No. 2025-09-18-0629, § 2(Att. D), 9-18-25)

San Antonio City Code § 13-26 Display.

Sec. 13-26. - Display. Every person authorized to operate a food establishment in accordance with the provisions of this chapter shall post such permit and the latest city health inspection report, or cause them to be posted, in a conspicuous place within the premises where such food establishment is authorized to be established, maintained or operated. A food establishment may also choose to voluntarily display a grade placard distributed by the Department consistent with the score received for that inspection period. A food establishment shall not display a grade placard not provided by the department or a grade placard inconsistent with the food establishment's inspection score. (Ord. No. 2008-05-15-0402, § 1(Att. I), 5-15-08; Ord. No. 2016-03-03-0163, §§ 1, 2, 3-3-16)

San Antonio City Code § 13-27 Fees enumerated.

Sec. 13-27. - Fees enumerated. (a) A person who operates a food establishment shall obtain a permit and pay a permit fee for each establishment. The fees are based on gross annual volume of food sales as follows: (1) For an establishment with gross annual volume of sales of $0—$49,999.00, the fee is $310.00 ..... (2) For an establishment with gross annual volume of sales of $50,000.00—$149,999.00, the fee is $618.00 ..... (3) For an establishment with gross annual volume of sales of $150,000.00 or more, the fee is $928.00 ..... (b) A school food establishment permit fee is two hundred forty dollars ($240.00). (c) A fee of two hundred forty dollars ($240.00) will be charged for a school cafeteria that is either operated by an independent school district or a non-profit contractor and that requires two (2) inspections per school year. (d) A fee of one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) will be charged for a pre-permitting inspection of existing food establishment facilities when there is a change of ownership requiring a new permit without requiring issuance of a new certificate of occupancy. (e) A fee of one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) in addition to the appropriate permit fee listed above in section (a) will be charged for inspection and permit of a food establishment that has been operating without a permit. (f) Temporary food establishments shall secure a permit more than three (3) days before beginning operation and shall pay a fee of fifty-two dollars ($52.00) per stand, per event. Each event is considered a separate permit period. The fee shall be paid prior to commencing operations. Permit fees are non-refundable. However, the date of the event may be rescheduled or the event may be canceled and rescheduled if the applicant makes a request to reschedule by contacting the department's duty supervisor at least two (2) business days prior to the event. A temporary food establishment that will be operating at multiple events may secure a permit for a period of two (2) years and shall pay a fee of two hundred dollars ($200.00) per food booth. The permit shall be secured more than three (3) days before beginning operation at the first event. (g) A special event (except farmers markets) that has two (2) or more temporary food establishments or booths shall have an event sponsor/coordinator. It shall be the responsibility of the event sponsor/coordinator to collect the temporary food establishment permit fees from the participants so that all fees may be paid to the department with a single payment. These fees shall be paid at least three (3) days in advance of the event as directed in this section. (h) Temporary food establishments located at a farmers market may operate for up to a year with an annual permit fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00). (i) A temporary food establishment may operate for a maximum of fourteen (14) consecutive days after which all operations must cease unless granted an exemption by the director or a permit is obtained under subsection (h). (j) An annual fee of seventy-five dollars ($75.00) shall be charged for a farmers market/flea market/trade show food establishment permit. Persons not requiring an annual permit may opt to obtain a temporary food establishment permit for special events. (Ord. No. 2008-05-15-0402, § 1(Att. I), 5-15-08; Ord. No. 2010-02-04-0096, § 2, 2-4-10; Ord. No. 2012-05-17-0355, § 2, 5-17-12; Ord. No. 2013-04-11-0258, § 2, 4-11-13; Ord. No. 2015-12-17-1067, § 1, 12-17-15; Ord. No. 2016-03-03-0163, §§ 1, 2, 3-3-16; Ord. No. 2016-09-15-0697, § 2(Att. C), 9-15-16; Ord. No. 2018-09-13-0713, § 1(Att. C.2), 9-13-18; Ord. No. 2019-09-12-0694A, § 1(Att. H), 9-12-19; Ord. No. 2025-09-18-0629, § 2(Att. D), 9-18-25)

San Antonio City Code § 13-28 Reserved.

San Antonio City Code § 13-29 Disposition of permit fees.

Sec. 13-29. - Disposition of permit fees. All fees payable under this chapter for whatever purpose required shall be deposited in the general fund of the city. (Ord. No. 2008-05-15-0402, § 1(Att. I), 5-15-08)

San Antonio City Code § 13-30 Transferability.

Sec. 13-30. - Transferability. Permits, as required by section 13-21, shall not be transferable from either one food establishment to another food establishment at a different location or from one person to another person who may subsequently own a certain food establishment. (Ord. No. 2008-05-15-0402, § 1(Att. I), 5-15-08; Ord. No. 2016-03-03-0163, §§ 1, 2, 3-3-16)

San Antonio City Code § 13-31 Revocation and reinstatement of permits.

Sec. 13-31. - Revocation and reinstatement of permits. (a) Permits issued under this chapter may be suspended or revoked by the director upon violation by the owner or operator of any of the terms of this chapter and upon written notice from the director or his representative. When such permit is suspended or revoked the operation of the establishment shall cease as stipulated in the written notice of suspension or revocation. (b) Whenever a permit to operate an establishment is suspended or revoked, the owner or operator of said establishment may request a hearing with the director provided that the request is in writing and it is filed with the director within ten (10) working days of the suspension or revocation. If no request for hearing is filed within the ten-day period, the suspension or revocation of the permit to operate becomes final. If a request for hearing is filed within the ten-day period, the director shall hold the hearing and render a decision in writing to the owner or operator of the establishment within ten (10) working days of receipt of the request. The decision of the director is final. (c) A suspended permit may be reinstated provided a written application for reinstatement is submitted to the director and provided that the violated provisions of this chapter have been corrected. The director or his representative shall make a reinspection and thereafter as many reinspections as may be necessary to assure that the applicant has complied with the requirements of this chapter. If the director finds that compliance has been accomplished, the permit shall be reinstated. The fee for reinstatement of a permit under this chapter shall be one hundred dollars ($100.00). (d) Whenever a revocation of a permit has become final the holder of such revoked permit may make written application for a new permit to operate provided the director is satisfied that the provisions of this chapter have been met and any additional provisions, with regard to training, that the director deems necessary, are met. The new permit shall be processed and the fee paid as provided in this chapter for new permits. (e) Any establishment which had its permit revoked two (2) times in a 36-month period will be ineligible to apply for a new permit for six (6) calendar months after the second or subsequent revocation. (Ord. No. 2008-05-15-0402, § 1(Att. I), 5-15-08)

San Antonio City Code § 13-32 Reinspection fee.

Sec. 13-32. - Reinspection fee. (a) A reinspection fee may be charged for any food establishment or food vendor regulated under this chapter. The reinspection fee for inspections beyond the normal schedule will be one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00). (b) Fees are due upon the reinspection and failure to pay the fee will result in the immediate suspension of the appropriate permit. Such suspension will only be lifted at such time as the reinspection fee is paid and violations noted are corrected. (Ord. No. 2008-05-15-0402, § 1(Att. I), 5-15-08; Ord. No. 2015-09-10-0758, § 2(Att. E), 9-10-15; Ord. No. 2025-09-18-0629, § 2(Att. D), 9-18-25)

San Antonio City Code § 13-33 Replacement of permits.

Sec. 13-33. - Replacement of permits. The department shall collect a fifteen dollar ($15.00) fee for the replacement of any lost, damaged or otherwise absent permit or certificate issued under this chapter. (Ord. No. 2008-05-15-0402, § 1(Att. I), 5-15-08)

San Antonio City Code § 13-34 Food permit late charge.

Sec. 13-34. - Food permit late charge. The department shall collect a late of one hundred dollars ($100.00) for any permit or certificate fee issued under any section of this chapter that is more than thirty (30) days overdue. No permit or certificate shall be issued until all charges and fees have been paid. (Ord. No. 2008-05-15-0402, § 1(Att. I), 5-15-08; Ord. No. 2025-09-18-0629, § 2(Att. D), 9-18-25)

Source: City of San Antonio, City Code, City Charter and Unified Development Code (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/san_antonio/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICO_CH13FOFOHA_ARTIIPEGEFetched: 10/27/2026