Selling Food in McLennan County Means a Permit From the Health District First

Before the first plate goes out, food businesses across the county run through the Environmental Health Division of Waco-McLennan Public Health. Their inspectors cover a wide net: restaurants, convenience stores, grocery aisles, school cafeterias, bars, mobile vendors, and the temporary booths that pop up at festivals and ballgames all get checked for safe storage, prep, and serving.

The path you take depends on what you're running, and so does the cost. A temporary booth at a single event runs about $52 and covers up to 14 consecutive days, but you have to get the application in at least three working days ahead — show up the morning of with no permit and you won't be serving. A farmers-market vendor cooking on site files a separate packet, with an annual permit around $100 and a food manager's license in hand. A full restaurant is its own track again.

If you're not sure which packet is yours, the division takes calls at (254) 750-5467, and it's a far cheaper conversation than buying a fryer for a concept the inspector won't sign off on.