Irving, TX Public Health Rules: Food Handler Certification (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit
- None required for charitable food service
- Notice deadline
- 48 hours before service, in writing
- Cold TCS food limit
- 41°F or below
- Hot TCS food limit
- 135°F or above
- Serving window
- Within 4 hours of preparation
- Enforcement
- Health Manager can require a food handler
Summary
Groups that serve free food to the public at outdoor charity events in Irving must notify the city's Health Manager in writing 48 hours ahead, and Section 18-4 lets the Health Manager require a trained or certified food handler whenever the food being served needs time and temperature control, such as items kept hot or refrigerated.
If Time and Temperature Control for Safety (TCS) foods are provided, the following requirements apply: a. Cold foods must be maintained at 41 degrees Fahrenheit or below. b. Hot foods must be maintained at 135 degrees Fahrenheit or above. c. Foods must be prepared, transported, and served within four hours of preparation. d. A trained or certified food handler may be required when TCS foods are served.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4988517; v32 updated 2026-07-30).
Full Breakdown
Irving folds charitable food service into Chapter 18 of its Code of Civil and Criminal Ordinances rather than requiring a food-establishment permit. Section 18-4(b)(3) waives any permit or permit fee for a person or group giving away food outdoors to those in need, and (b)(4) exempts the activity from the Chapter 33B special-event permit process. gov and naming the organization, the date, start and end times, the physical location, whether Time and Temperature Control for Safety (TCS) food will be served, an on-site contact, and proof of approval to use the property.
Section 18-4(e) then sets the food-safety rules that follow from that TCS answer: cold TCS food must stay at 41 degrees Fahrenheit or below, hot TCS food at 135 degrees or above, and all TCS food must be prepared, transported and served within four hours of preparation. It is this same subsection that lets the Health Manager require a trained or certified food handler whenever TCS food is on the menu. Section 18-4(f) separately requires either a temporary handwashing station with a spigot, soap, paper towels and a wastewater catch container, or food-service-approved hand sanitizing wipes, whenever food is served unpackaged.
Section 18-4(g) makes the organizer responsible for trash removal and restoring the site afterward, and 18-4(d) gives the Health Manager authority to inspect and cite noncompliant events.
Violations & Fines
Chapter 18's general penalty in Section 18-3 governs charitable food service violations: a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $500, rising to $2,000 if the violation is committed intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence and involves fire safety, zoning, or public health and sanitation. Every offense under this chapter is treated as strict liability, each day a violation continues counts as a separate offense, and the city may pursue civil remedies alongside any citation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a city permit to give away food at a charity event in Irving?
How far ahead do I have to notify the city before handing out food?
When can the city require a certified food handler?
What happens if I skip the notice or food-safety rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Irving
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