What permits do you need to open a retail store in Ector County?

Food Establishment Health Permit (Ector County Health Department, unincorporated county)

A restaurant, coffee shop or store that sells food in unincorporated Ector County needs a health permit from the Ector County Health Department. per the Ector County Health Department's fee notice dated October 6, 2025 ("these are the new fees implemented for Ector County"), filed in the Texas DSHS local fee schedule registry, the Application for Health Permit is $773.00 per year. A business may instead pay a reduced fee by sending its most recent tax filing and income paperwork showing gross annual sales: $258 for $0-49,999.99, $515 for $50,000-149,999.99 and $773 for $150,000 and more. Plan review is $150.00 and each additional inspection is $150.00. The amounts are published here for locations in unincorporated Ector County. The county's Food Service Sanitation Program page sets out the procedure: contact a Sanitarian, bring a set of plans for review, schedule an on-site walk-through, pre-pay for the Health Permit, and after a final inspection "a Health Permit will be issued". The page also states that "Food Handler Certifications are required in Ector County for all employees (managers must be certified food managers)". Contact the Ector County Health Department Environmental Section, 221 N. Texas Ave, Odessa, 432-498-4141, extension 2161.

Farmers Market Only Permit (Ector County Health Department, unincorporated county)

A vendor selling food at a farmers market in unincorporated Ector County applies to the Ector County Health Department for a Farmers Market Only Permit. per the Ector County Health Department's fee notice dated October 6, 2025 ("these are the new fees implemented for Ector County"), filed in the Texas DSHS local fee schedule registry, the Application for Farmers Market Only Permit is $100.00 per year. The amounts are published here for locations in unincorporated Ector County. The county's Food Service Sanitation Program page lists the "Application for Farmers Market Only" form. Contact the Ector County Health Department Environmental Section, 221 N. Texas Ave, Odessa, 432-498-4141, extension 2161.

County Clerk Wet/Dry Certification for TABC Applications (Ector County)

A restaurant, coffee shop or store in Ector County applying for a Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission permit needs a certification of the location's wet or dry status. Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code section 11.37(a) requires the county clerk, within 30 days of a prospective applicant's request, to certify whether the location "is in a wet area" and whether the sale sought is prohibited by any valid order of the commissioners court; section 11.37(b) gives the same duty to the city secretary or clerk for a location inside a city. The permit itself, and its fee, come from TABC.

Shared with other businesses in Ector County

• Temporary Event Food Permit (Ector County Health Department, unincorporated county) — Ector County Health Department (Environmental Section), $52–$200 Single Temporary Event Permit $52.00; Temporary Permit $200 per year, single event, or per year for the Temporary Permit. Also required for restaurants and coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.
• On-Site Sewage Facility (Septic) Permit (Ector County Health Department) — Ector County Health Department (Environmental Section), The septic permit fee is not published on the Environmental Section page or in the October 6, 2025 fee notice; contact the Ector County Health Department, 432-498-4141, extension 2161, for the current amount., per system. Also required for restaurants, auto repair shops, veterinary clinics and contractors and trades; what it involves is set out on the auto repair shops page.