The Food Protection & Education Unit aims to promote healthy people and healthy communities through education and regulation of food service establishments.

In the City of Dallas, there are over 6,000 "permitted" fixed food establishments, including restaurant, convenience stores, food, and espresso carts, coffee shops, delis, grocery stores, and schools; there are over 800 Mobile Food Units/ Kiosk; and there are nearly 3000 Temporary Food Establishment inspections conducted annually (occurring mostly on weekends/holidays) including the  State Fair of Texas, New Years Day, St. Patricks Day, Cinco de Mayo, Juneteenth, Taste of Dallas, and many other large and small events. All are inspected by a licensed sanitarian from the Consumer Health Division.

Services Provided​

• Mobile Food Vehicle Permitting/ Inspections
• Temporary Food Services Establishment Permitting/ Inspections
• Foodborne illness investigation/ Food Sample Collections and Analysis
• Central Business District Vending Permitting/ Inspections
• Enforce City Ordinances/ State Laws that relate to the sale and service of food and beverages
• Emergency Response – Manmade/ Natural Disasters
• Consumer Complaints/ Foodborne Investigations
• Food Safety Training and Education
• Restaurants/ Temporary Food  Handlers
• Food Service Manager Certification Program
• Smoking Ordinance Enforcement

Type of Inspections Routine, Follow-up, Complaint, Temporary, and Mobile

• Routine Inspections – are conducted at least once every six months 
• Follow-up Inspections –  are conducted as a result of poor sanitation issues, low scores
• Complaints Inspections – General Sanitation/Hygienic Practices /Illness Investigation, Smoking and Other 
• Temporary – the City of Dallas Office of Special Events provides a listing of a public event being held involving food and we provide guidance and inspect
• Mobile – the various mobile food units are inspected annually with random inspections conducted during the year.

Restaurant Food Scores

Scores only represent a snapshot of the facility at the time of inspection. Scoring is based on critical vs. non-critical violations. Repeated facility names may indicate follow-up inspection of a single permitted activity or an inspection of a different activity in the same facility, i.e. meat, fish or produce departments in a grocery store.

If the restaurant is not listed the following may be occurring: change of ownership, remodeling or it is a new establishment not yet inspected.

Score Range
100-80 (Meets Consumer Health Division standards)
79-70 (Requires follow-up inspection within 30 days)
69-60 (Requires follow-up inspection within 10 days)
59 and below (Requires follow-up inspection within 24 hours)

Under City of Dallas Ordinance Sec. 17-10.2(b) a food establishment shall provide a copy of the most recent inspection report to any customer or potential customer upon request. You can Search Restaurant Food Scores located in the City of Dallas.

Food Establishment Permit
Food establishment permits are required for fixed locations such as restaurants, bars, grocery stores, convienence stores, schools, etc.   To obtain a permit for a fixed facility please visit Oak Cliff Municipal Center, Building Inspection, at 320 E. Jefferson Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75203.

Complaints Concerning Restaurants
To report a possible food-borne illness or unsanitary condition at a restaurant or other food-related establishment, contact the City of Dallas 3-1-1 Service Request System at (214) 670-3111 or visit www.dallascityhall.com to enter your service request. 

Registered Food Service Manager
Each food establishment (fixed) is required to have an on-site Registered Food Service Manager. The Registered Food Service Manager class is offered at various locations throughout the state.

A list of the locations may be obtained here: TDH Course Registry of the Food Protection Management Training ​Programs.

Roadside/Parking Lot Sales
Vending on public property is prohibited except in the downtown Central Business District. Anyone selling goods (flowers, purses, shoes, etc.) on parking lots or along roadsides is doing so illegally. This type of activity is regulated by the Department of Code Compliance.