Amarillo's Public Health Rules: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles public health rules a little differently. In Amarillo, Texas, there are 2 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Food Handler Certification

Amarillo requires a Certified Food Manager on-site during every hour a food establishment operates, under Code Sec. 8-5-18(a). Restaurants ranked low-risk (Level 1 or 2) can skip that presence rule only if one supervisor holds a Food Manager certificate and every other food employee finishes an accredited food handler course within 30 days of hire. The Amarillo Area Public Health District's Environmental Health Officer enforces the requirement.

Key details: Presence rule: Certified Food Manager required all hours of operation. Low-risk exemption: Level 1-2 sites need only one certified supervisor. Handler training deadline: Other staff must certify within 30 days of hire. Fees: Set by Environmental Health Dept. fee schedule, Sec. 8-5-15(b). Criminal penalty: Class C misdemeanor, up to $2,000 per day.

Operating without the required Certified Food Manager, or letting a low-risk exemption lapse, is enforced as a Chapter 8-5 violation. Sec. 8-5-26(a)(1) makes it a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $2,000.00, with each day of continued noncompliance a separate offense under Sec. 1-1-5(b). The Environmental Health Director can also pursue civil penalties up to $5,000.00 under Sec. 8-5-26(b), and the Environmental Health Officer may temporarily suspend the establishment's permit under Sec. 8-5-17 until the certification defect is corrected.

Restaurant Grade Cards

Amarillo scores every food establishment after each inspection and converts the number into a letter grade under Code Sec. 8-5-20. A 90-or-above sanitation score earns an 'A,' while a score of 69 or below is an 'F' and counts as a failed inspection. The Environmental Health Officer posts the resulting placard at the entrance for customers to see.

Key details: Grade A: Sanitation score of 90 or above. Grade F: Score of 69 or below, counts as 'Failed'. Scoring method: 100 minus total violation point values, Sec. 8-5-20(b). Placard location: Posted at each entrance, or within 10 feet. Tampering rule: Only Environmental Health Officer may remove placard.

Sec. 8-5-20(d) makes defacing, removing, or hiding an inspection placard a criminal offense under Sec. 8-5-26(a), a Class C misdemeanor carrying a fine up to $2,000.00, with each day treated as a separate offense under Sec. 1-1-5(b). The Environmental Health Officer can additionally suspend or revoke the establishment's permit for up to 30 days for intentional placard tampering, on top of any court fine.

The Bottom Line

Amarillo's public health rules rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Amarillo is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Amarillo can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.