City of McAllen Health, Code Enforcement & Animal Care Services

Food Establishment Permit

Under City Code § 54-41 it is unlawful to operate a food establishment or retail food store in McAllen without a valid permit from the city's regulatory authority; the permit is not transferable and must be posted in the establishment, and a temporary food service establishment permit runs no more than 14 days. Under § 54-42 the health department inspects on application, the permit fee is annual and is determined by the city manager (as amended by Ordinance 2022-128, adopted 10 October 2022), and a third inspection after two failed inspections or serious violations carries a $50.00 reinspection fee. The City Code and the department's web page do not state the annual permit amount, so no amount is shown here; the Health & Code Enforcement Department sets it. The City Code also requires plans for a new or extensively remodeled food establishment to be submitted for review before work begins. The department's page links its Food Establishment Permit application and its Basic Requirements for a Food Establishment (rev. 06/02/2025).