Taylor, TX Public Health Rules: Food Handler Certification (2026)
Key Facts
- Certifying agency
- Williamson County and Cities Health District (WCCHD)
- One-year card fee
- $10.00
- Two-year card fee
- $15.00
- Manager exemption
- State food protection manager cert accepted instead
- Maximum penalty
- $2,000 fine per day, public health violation
Summary
Anyone who handles food or drink in a Taylor restaurant, grocery, bakery, or other food establishment must hold a valid food handler's registration certificate from the Williamson County and Cities Health District under City Code Sec. 14-15. Employers cannot staff a kitchen with an uncertified worker, and the card must stay posted on site.
It shall hereafter be unlawful for any person operating any food establishment, to work or employ a food handler until such food handler has received a food handler's registration certificate from the WCCHD that is valid during the time of such employment. ... Any person, firm, corporation or any entity violating any of the provisions or terms of this article shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction in the municipal court of the city, shall be subjected to a fine not to exceed the sum of $500.00 for each offense, except where a different penalty has been established by state law for such offense, and for any violation of any provision which governs public health or sanitation, which shall be punished by a penalty of fine not to exceed the sum of $2,000.00 for each offense; and each and every day such violation is continued shall be deemed to constitute a separate offense.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 14's food establishment article puts registration in WCCHD's hands rather than the city directly. Sec. 14-15 makes it unlawful to work or employ a food handler who has not received a WCCHD registration certificate valid for the employment period. Workers get certified one of two ways: attending a WCCHD food handler class, or passing a test given by a business's own certified 'train the trainer,' who must first complete a two-hour WCCHD course before administering tests on-site. Once issued, the card must be posted at the workplace where the health official can verify it during an inspection.
Managers, assistant managers, and shift supervisors who hold the Texas state certified food protection manager credential are exempt from carrying a separate WCCHD food handler card, but they must post their state certification alongside employee cards instead. Sec. 00-plus-card-fee remote class option for new establishments training at least 50 students. Enforcement runs through WCCHD inspections and the city's food establishment permit, which is separate from, and in addition to, this individual food-handler credential.
Violations & Fines
Sec. 14-19 makes any violation of the food-establishment article, including employing or working as an uncertified food handler, a misdemeanor. The standard fine is up to $500.00 per offense, but because this is a public health and sanitation provision, the fine rises to up to $2,000.00 for each offense, with every day of continued violation treated as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who needs a food handler card in Taylor?
Where do I get certified?
How much does the card cost?
Are managers exempt from carrying a card?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Taylor
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Food Handler Certification in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Williamson County handle food handler certification.