Austin Public Health inspects food establishments under City Code Chapter 10-3 and assigns a numerical score on a 100-point scale. Austin does not require posted letter grades at the entrance, but reports are public on the Austin/Travis County dashboard.
Austin Public Health Environmental Health Services administers Chapter 10-3 of the City Code, requiring permits and routine inspection of food establishments. Each inspection produces a numerical score starting at 100, with deductions for critical and non-critical violations under the Texas Food Establishment Rules. Scores below roughly 70 trigger reinspection, and persistent failures lead to permit suspension or municipal court fines. Reports are published on the Austin/Travis County food inspection portal but, unlike Los Angeles or New York, are not required to be posted at the door as a letter grade. Establishments must employ a Certified Food Manager and maintain food-handler credentials. Mobile food units, schools, and temporary event vendors are also inspected.
Operating without a permit, refusing inspection, failing to correct critical violations, or scoring below the cutoff after reinspection can result in closure, permit suspension, and Class C misdemeanor citations with fines up to two thousand dollars per offense per day.
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See how Austin's restaurant grade cards rules stack up against other locations.
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