Denton, TX Public Health Rules: Food Handler Certification (2026)
Key Facts
- Grace period for new hires
- 10 days from date of employment
- Who must comply
- Owner, manager, or controller of establishment
- Enforcing office
- Health and Food Safety Division
- Card source
- DSHS-approved food handler training course
Summary
Denton requires every food service employee to hold a valid food handler card within 10 days of being hired.
228.31(d)(1) Every person who owns, manages, or otherwise controls any food service establishment shall not permit any person to be employed therein who does not possess a valid food handler card within ten (10) days from the date of their employment.
228.31(f) Personnel.
(1)A food employee may drink from a beverage container that has a tight-fitting lid with a straw.(2)Employees shall wear disposable gloves when handling ready-to-eat foods, or provide documentation of training regarding correct handling of ready-to-eat foods. Subchapter C Food:
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 37 Update 1 | Development Code: Supplement 27).
Full Breakdown
Under the city's amendments to the Texas Food Establishment Rules, anyone who owns, manages, or controls a food service establishment in Denton may not let an employee work without a valid food handler card, and new hires have a 10-day grace period to get certified. The card must come from a training course approved by the Texas Department of State Health Services. This applies on top of the separate Certified Food Protection Manager requirement for the person in charge.
Violations & Fines
Employing an uncertified worker past the 10-day window is a code violation; the owner or operator commits an offense under the article and can be cited by the Health and Food Safety Division.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do new food service employees have to get a food handler card in Denton?
Is a food handler card the same as a certified food manager certificate in Denton?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Denton
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Denton to another location·View the Texas public health rules overview
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Food Handler Certification in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Denton County handle food handler certification.