Corpus Christi, TX Public Health Rules: Restaurant Grade Cards (2026)

Under Sec. 19-39, any regular inspection scoring more than thirty (30) demerits puts the inspecting officer in charge of the establishment's case going forward. The establishment must submit to a follow-up inspection within 48 hours, correct every four- and five-point deficiency by then, and pay a follow-up inspection fee; follow-up inspections are not scored. If deficiencies remain uncorrected, the environmental health manager convenes a mandatory meeting with the inspector, the certified food manager and/or owner, which can end in revocation of the food manager's, food handler's and health permits.

A second follow-up inspection follows within ten days, and if problems persist a third follow-up comes within ten days of that meeting, still at the establishment's expense; failing the third follow-up can trigger suspension or revocation of every permit the city/county health department has issued to the business. If the same establishment draws a second regular inspection over thirty demerits within a twelve-month period, another mandatory meeting is called and a 48-hour re-inspection is required, again fee-based and unscored. A third regular inspection exceeding thirty demerits within that twelve-month window is treated as a health threat: the health officer may suspend the establishment's health permit for twenty-four to seventy-two hours, and the food manager's permit can be suspended too.

To reopen, the operator must submit a written statement confirming every four- and five-point item is corrected, and the health officer must personally verify the corrections before approving reopening. Separately, Sec. 19-34 requires every health permit and inspection certificate to stay posted in a spot conspicuous to the public, and inspection sheets must be kept on-site and produced on request, so diners can see recent results even though Corpus Christi does not issue a graded A/B/C placard.