CHARITABLE FOOD SERVICES

Houston Code of Ordinances ch. 20, art. V

in effect

Houston Code of Ordinances § 20-251 Definitions.

Sec. 20-251. - Definitions. As used in this article, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings set forth in this section: Charitable food services means providing food without charge, payment or other compensation to benefit those in need at an outdoor location not owned, leased or controlled by the individual or organization providing the food. Food service event means each instance in which charitable food services are provided to more than five individuals. Health department means the Houston Health Department. Parks department means the department of parks and recreation. Recognized charitable food service provider means an individual or organization which participates in charitable food services and has received a certificate from the city designating said individual or organization as being in good standing in the City of Houston Recognized Charitable Food Service Provider Program. (Ord. No. 2012-269, § 2, 4-4-2012, eff. 7-1-2012; Ord. No. 2015-820, § 15, 8-26-2015)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 20-252 Use of property without consent prohibited.

Sec. 20-252. - Use of property without consent prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any organization or individual to sponsor or conduct a food service event on public or private property without the advance written consent of the public or private property owner or other individual with lawful control of the property. (Ord. No. 2012-269, § 2, 4-4-2012, eff. 7-1-2012)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 20-253 Program created.

Sec. 20-253. - Program created. There is hereby created the City of Houston Recognized Charitable Food Service Provider Program (the "program"). The purpose of the program shall be to create a voluntary coalition of religious, community based, and charitable organizations and individuals dedicated to providing charitable food services in an organized, efficient, and cooperative process, assuring sanitary, quality foods are delivered to those in need, while protecting the environment and the rights of private property owners. The program shall be coordinated jointly by the director of public health and one or more community-based organizations. (Ord. No. 2012-269, § 2, 4-4-2012, eff. 7-1-2012; Ord. No. 2015-820, § 16, 8-26-2015)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 20-254 Participation in the program; certification.

Sec. 20-254. - Participation in the program; certification. Any individual or organization desiring to participate in the program shall provide to the health department basic contact information, including name, address, telephone number, FAX number, email address, and name or names of contact person(s). In addition, the individual or organization, by requesting to participate in the program, shall pledge to do the following: (1) To cooperate with the program coordinators in the scheduling and siting of food service events, with the goal of maximizing the benefit of such charitable food services to the needy. (2) To provide charitable food services in a manner consistent with good hygiene, sanitation, and food safety, by: a. Following basic standards for food preparation, handling, storage, and use promulgated by the health department. b. Conducting each food service event under the guidance of at least one person who has attended a city-sponsored, free-of-charge food safety training class conducted by the health department and has received an appropriate charitable food service certification (also referred to as a "certification"). A person qualified as a food service manager shall also suffice. A certification obtained in this manner shall be valid for a period of five years. c. Authorizing the inspection of all food preparation areas, all food transport vehicles, and all food service events by appropriate representatives of the health department. d. Agreeing to implement improvements to their food preparation, transportation, and service process as suggested by the health department. (3) To provide adequate personnel, trash receptacles, and trash containment and removal measures to contain all trash, refuse, and litter on the site of the food service event and to remove all trash, refuse, litter and unused foods from the site at the conclusion of the food service event. Any individual or organization providing the necessary contact information and pledging to participate in the program as described in this section shall be designated by an official certificate issued by the health department as a recognized charitable food service provider, and upon continuing to fulfill that pledge as determined by the health department, shall be eligible for renewal annually. An individual or organization providing charitable food services with the consent of the property owner but without participating in the program established by this article shall not be deemed in violation of this article. (Ord. No. 2012-269, § 2, 4-4-2012, eff. 7-1-2012; Ord. No. 2025-743, § 30, 8-27-2025)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 20-255 Health department authorized.

Sec. 20-255. - Health department authorized. The health department is authorized to: (1) Issue guidelines for food preparation, food transportation, food storage, and other food safety, sanitation, and public health-related issues associated with conducting food service events. (2) Provide appropriate health department personnel to conduct charitable food service certification classes at no charge as described in section 20-254(2)(b) of this Code. (3) Identify on an annual basis beginning one year from the effective date of Ordinance No. 2012-269, those recognized charitable food service providers which have abided by their pledge to provide charitable food services in conformance with section 20-254 of this Code, and based on that performance, determine that such individuals or organizations should continue in good standing as recognized charitable food service providers. (Ord. No. 2012-269, § 2, 4-4-2012, eff. 7-1-2012)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 20-256 Identification and recognition.

Sec. 20-256. - Identification and recognition. The city shall maintain on the city website a list identifying by name and address (and if requested by the provider, other direct contact information), those recognized charitable food service providers which are in good standing under the program. In addition, recognized charitable food service providers currently in good standing under the program may also identify themselves as having achieved that status in correspondence, publications, and the like; provided, however, such identification shall not utilize the official city seal or other similar official identifiers of the City of Houston. (Ord. No. 2012-269, § 2, 4-4-2012, eff. 7-1-2012)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 20-257 Use of city parks and other city property for food service events.

Sec. 20-257. - Use of city parks and other city property for food service events. The director of the parks department shall develop rules, regulations, and criteria for the use of park properties for food service events and shall maintain a list of park properties with areas approved for food service events. The director of public health shall develop rules, regulations, and criteria for the use of other city property for food service events and shall maintain a list of such properties with areas approved for food service events. The parks department and the health department shall coordinate designation of such properties to avoid redundancy and maximize the most effective use of the properties. (Ord. No. 2012-269, § 2, 4-4-2012, eff. 7-1-2012; Ord. No. 2015-820, § 17, 8-26-2015)

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_ARTVCHFOSEFetched: 10/26/2026