compliance
San Antonio Cottage Food Laws Compliance Checklist (2026)
Operating a home-based food business in San Antonio requires navigating both Texas state regulations and local health department requirements. This checklist covers the specific cottage food laws that apply to your operation, inspection standards, and common violations that can result in citations or permit revocation. Use this guide to ensure your business stays compliant with the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and Bexar County Health Department rules.
Texas Cottage Food Operations: What You Need to Know
Texas allows certain non-potentially hazardous foods to be made in home kitchens under the Residential Kitchen Operation (RKO) license, but restrictions are strict. Allowed products include baked goods (without cream cheese frosting), jams, jellies, dried herbs, and certain non-potentially hazardous foods as defined by the Texas Food Rules. You must obtain an RKO license from the Texas DSHS, and your home kitchen must pass inspection for basic sanitation, handwashing facilities, and food storage separation. Prohibited items include canned goods, foods requiring refrigeration, raw meats, dairy products, and anything requiring temperature control for safety (TCS foods).
San Antonio & Bexar County Inspection Checklist
The Bexar County Health Department conducts routine inspections of home-based food operations using the Texas Food Service Rules (25 TAC §229.1 et seq). Key inspection items include: proper handwashing sink access, separate food preparation surfaces from household use, documented pest control, no cross-contamination between home and business items, and labeling with business name, address, and contents. Your inspection will verify that no potentially hazardous foods are being produced, that ingredients are food-grade and traceable, and that all storage meets temperature requirements. Keep records of supplier invoices and product testing (if applicable) for at least two years.
Common Violations & How to Avoid Them
The most frequent San Antonio cottage food violations include unlabeled products (must include business name, address, date, ingredients), operating without an active RKO license, and producing foods outside the approved cottage food list—such as refrigerated jams or cream-filled baked goods. Mixing household items with business food in shared refrigerators, failing to maintain proper handwashing records, and selling products not directly to consumers (like wholesale to retailers) are also common infractions. To avoid violations, keep your operation strictly segregated from household food preparation, maintain a written log of production batches, and verify every product against the DSHS approved list before you produce it.
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