Leander, TX Public Health Rules: Food Handler Certification (2026)

04 of the Leander Code of Ordinances adopts the state's food-service rules (25 Tex. Admin. Code ch. 229, §§ 161-171, 173-175) and puts the Williamson County and Cities Health District (WCCHD) in charge of enforcement inside city limits. Sec. 006 makes it "unlawful for any person operating any food establishment to work or employ a food handler" without a valid WCCHD food handler's registration certificate for the full period of employment. " A food establishment can run its own training: an employee completes a two-hour WCCHD Train-the-Trainer class and then teaches and tests co-workers on-site, or a state-certified food protection manager submits a class outline and test to WCCHD for approval; WCCHD can suspend either option at its discretion.

Completed cards must be posted at the workplace where the health official can verify them during inspection. Managers, assistant managers and shift supervisors who hold the state food protection manager certification are exempt from the individual card requirement but must post that state certification alongside employee cards. Cards remain valid for whatever period WCCHD stipulates on the certificate itself. The article also folds in the establishment's own permit and inspection cycle: high-risk establishments serving potentially hazardous food are inspected at least four times a year, lower-risk prepackaged-food operations at least twice, and a facility that racks up more than 30 demerits faces escalating "UNSATISFACTORY" placarding, a required corrective plan of action filed with WCCHD's environmental division, and on a third failure within 12 months, written notice of intent to permanently revoke the establishment's permit.