Food Businesses Need County Health Approval

Opening a food business in unincorporated Hidalgo County means checking health rules before you sell. The county's food rules cover food service establishments, retail food stores, mobile food units, and roadside vendors in the unincorporated areas of the county, including a city's extraterritorial jurisdiction, all enforced by Hidalgo County Health and Human Services.

Almost all categories of food enterprise need county approval, while cottage food operations are treated separately. Mobile vendors and temporary food events have their own county guidelines. Some cities also contract with the county for inspections, so city hall may send you back to the county health department.

Before leasing a kitchen, buying a food truck, or planning a market booth, contact the Environmental Health Division at 1304 S. 25th Ave. in Edinburg or use the county Environmental Health page. Ask what permit, inspection, and posting rules apply to your exact setup.