Health Services

The Health and Sanitation Ordinance allows the city to inspect and maintain areas for the general public.

The Health Inspector is responsible for the following:

• Inspecting all food service establishments to assure residents and visitors are consuming safe food.
• Providing educational services to assist food service managers and ensuring that all workers are conducting safe food handling practices.
• Reviewing plans for new food service establishments

Food Service

Each food service establishment is inspected a minimum of two times a year. The Health Inspector will document any observed violations at the time of the inspection. Violations must be corrected within a certain time frame based on the type of violation discovered. The following food service establishments are inspected:

• Permanent food service establishments
  
• Mobile food units
• Temporary food establishments
• Retail food stores*
• School cafeterias
• Daycare center
• Nursing homes
• Carnivals and festivals

*Retail food stores includes grocery stores, bakeries, delis, food manufacturing facilities, lounges, clubs, wholesale groceries, and jail facilities.

Food Handlers License

Anyone working with food in a food service establishment must have a food handlers license. Information on Food Handlers Licenses can be found here. For food managers, information can be found here.

Mobile Food Establishments

The Health Division has requirements for mobile food businesses that operate in the city. All food trucks and trailers are required to obtain a permit. The requirements of the mobile food establishment permit may be found here.

Temporary Food Establishments

The Health Division also works with businesses and organizations that establish temporary food establishments. All organizations that plan to sell food to the general public must obtain a temporary food establishment permit. The requirements of the permit can be found here.

Food Permit Fees

A list of fees for food permits may be found here. The Food Establishment Permit Application can be used to apply for a permit for a Permanent, Temporary, or Mobile Food Establishment.

Have a Complaint?

Click here to download the complaint form, or use our online complaint form. You can email the form to our Health Inspector at jmigliaccio@palestine-tx.org, bring the form to the City Hall, or send by regular mail to 504 North Queen Street, Palestine, Texas 75801.