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

Pearland's food code starts with Code of Ordinances § 11-1, which adopts the current Texas Administrative Code, Title 25, Part 1, Chapter 228, Texas Food Establishment Rules, as the city's baseline for how food is stored, prepared, and served. Section 11-2 layers on local amendments, including a definition of a 'temporary food establishment' as one operating a stand or booth at a permitted event or celebration for no more than 14 consecutive days; the definition specifically excludes food vending vehicles and mobile food vendors, who are governed separately under § 11-23.

For anyone applying for a temporary food establishment permit, § 11-22(2) requires the application to include a copy of the applicant's food handler certificate and/or food manager certificate, along with the floor plan of the setup, the complete menu, the dates of operation, and the property owner's contact information. A general food establishment permit application under § 11-22(1) needs only the applicant's name and address, the establishment's location, and a signature, so the certification requirement is specifically tied to the temporary-event permit track.

The code enforcement/health officer will not issue the permit unless an inspection confirms the proposed food establishment meets the chapter's requirements (§ 11-22(3)). Temporary permits run from the date of issuance through the last day of the twelfth month after issuance. Fees for the permit and any required renewal follow the schedule set in Ordinance No. 1358, as amended (§ 11-24).