Public Health Rules in Dallas, TX (2026)
7 verified public health rules for Dallas, Texas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Restaurant Grade Cards
Dallas Code Compliance Services inspects food establishments under City Code Chapter 17 and posts numerical scores online. Unlike Los Angeles or New York, Dallas does not require posted letter grades at the entrance.
Restaurant Inspection Scores: Numerical, Not Letter Grades
Some RestrictionsRodent Control
Dallas City Code Chapter 18 and Chapter 27 require property owners to control rats, mice, and other vermin. Texas Health & Safety Code Chapter 343 also defines rodent harborage as a public nuisance subject to abatement.
Rodent and Vector Control on Private Property
Some RestrictionsTexas Health & Safety Code Sec. 343.011 - Public Nuisance
Sec. 343.011. PUBLIC NUISANCE. (a) This section applies only to the unincorporated area of a county.(b) A person may not cause, permit, or allow a public nuisance under this section.(c) A public nuisance is:(1) keeping, storing, or accumulating refuse on premises in a neighborhood unless the refuse is entirely contained in a closed receptacle;(2) keeping, storing, or accumulating rubbish, inclu...
Bed-Bug Rules
Texas Property Code Chapter 92 requires landlords to maintain habitable rentals, and Dallas Code Chapter 27 Minimum Property Standards treats untreated bed bug infestations as a habitability defect that owners must remedy promptly.
Bed Bug Habitability and Landlord Duties
Some RestrictionsTexas Property Code Sec. 92.052 - Landlord Duty to Repair
Sec. 92.052. LANDLORD'S DUTY TO REPAIR OR REMEDY. (a) A landlord shall make a diligent effort to repair or remedy a condition if:(1) the tenant specifies the condition in a notice to the person to whom or to the place where rent is normally paid;(2) the tenant is not delinquent in the payment of rent at the time notice is given; and(3) the condition:(A) materially affects the physical health or...
Syringe Disposal
Texas Health & Safety Code Chapter 728 governs disposal of used needles and sharps, and Dallas County Health and Human Services operates a SHARP collection program for residents needing safe drop-off of household medical sharps.
Sharps and Used Syringe Disposal Rules
Some RestrictionsTexas Health & Safety Code Sec. 481.125 - Possession or Delivery of Drug Paraphernalia
Sec. 481.125. OFFENSE: POSSESSION OR DELIVERY OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA. (a) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly or intentionally uses or possesses with intent to use drug paraphernalia to plant, propagate, cultivate, grow, harvest, manufacture, compound, convert, produce, process, prepare, test, analyze, pack, repack, store, contain, or conceal a controlled substance in violation o...
Healthy Food Retail
Dallas does not mandate healthy food retail, but the Office of Equity and Inclusion and the Food Policy Advisory Committee shape grocery-access incentives, including studies of food deserts and partnerships supporting fresh produce in underserved neighborhoods.
Healthy Food Access and Food Policy Initiatives
Few RestrictionsCalorie Labeling
Federal FDA regulation 21 CFR 101.11 requires chain restaurants with twenty or more US locations to post calorie counts on menus. Dallas does not impose additional rules, but local establishments must comply with federal standards.
Calorie Labeling on Chain Restaurant Menus
Some RestrictionsFood Handler Certification
The Texas Food Handler Education Act and Dallas Code Chapter 17 require food employees to complete a state-approved food handler course and at least one Certified Food Manager per establishment to maintain valid credentials.
Food Handler and Manager Certification Requirements
Some RestrictionsTexas Health & Safety Code Chapter 438 Subchapter D - Accredited Food Handler Training
Sec. 438.102. CERTIFICATION PROGRAM. (a) The executive commissioner shall establish a certification program for food managers in accordance with this subchapter.(b) The executive commissioner by rule shall prescribe the requirements for issuance and renewal of a food manager certificate under this subchapter. Added by
Looking for Dallas County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Dallas city rules.
Public Health Rules in Dallas County →