Does anyone know where I can find info on becomming legal in Texas? I have looked on the government website, but there is so much information and I cannot find specifically what I need. Do you have to have a separate kitchen? Any info would be great!
Stephanie
Have you tried a search here on CC? There have been a lot of posts and threads on becoming legal in lots of the states.
I live here in Carrollton, but since I have no plan to do more than bake for family and friends, haven't investigated it myself. Janice
Look around in the cake deco. business section, theres alot of info. From what I hear its pretty difficult.
I looked this up a last year and the rules are really complex. I think I found the info under Health Dept or Food Regulations area of the state website. It was not easy to find.
As I read through the Regulations, the one thing that caught my eye (and eliminated me from having my kitchen approved) is that your kitchen area cannot lead directly into a living area. Obviously, I am paraphrasing. Basically, your kitchen must be separated from living and sleeping quarters by a dining room, hallway, etc.
There are also a lot of other requirements such as hand sinks (separate from food prep sink), mop sinks, etc.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news!
STATE OF TEXAS HEALTH & SAFETY CODE
CHAPTER 434. PUBLIC HEALTH PROVISIONS RELATING TO PRODUCTION OF
BAKED GOODS
SUBCHAPTER A. BAKERIES
§ 434.001. DEFINITION. In this subchapter "bakery" means
a business producing, preparing, storing, or displaying bakery
products intended for sale for human consumption.
Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.
§ 434.002. BAKERY REQUIREMENTS. (a) A building used or
occupied as a bakery shall be clean and properly lighted, drained,
and ventilated.
(b) A bakery shall have adequate plumbing and drainage
facilities, including suitable wash sinks and restroom facilities.
Restroom facilities shall be separate from the rooms in which the
bakery products are produced or handled. Each wash sink area and
restroom facility shall be clean, sanitary, well lit, and
ventilated.
(c) The floors, walls, and ceilings of a room in which dough
is mixed or handled, pastry is prepared for baking, or bakery
products or the ingredients of those products are otherwise handled
or stored shall be clean, wholesome, and sanitary. Each opening
into the room, including a window or door, shall be properly
screened or otherwise protected to exclude flies.
(d) A showcase, shelf, or other place from which bakery
products are sold shall at all times be clean, wholesome, covered,
properly ventilated, and protected from dust and flies.
(e) A workroom may not be used for purposes other than those
directly connected with the preparation, baking, storage, or
handling of food. A workroom may not be used as a washing,
sleeping, or living room and shall at all times be kept separate and
closed from living and sleeping rooms.
(f) Each bakery shall provide, separate from the workrooms,
a dressing room for the changing and hanging of wearing apparel.
Each dressing room shall be kept clean at all times.
Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.
§ 434.003. SANITARY REQUIREMENTS. (a) A person may not
sit or lie on any table, bench, trough, or shelf intended for dough
or bakery products.
(b) Animals or fowl may not be kept or allowed in any bakery
or other place where bakery products are produced or stored.
(c) A person engaged in the preparation or handling of
bakery products shall wash the person's arms and hands thoroughly
before beginning the preparation, mixing, or handling of
ingredients used in baking. A bakery shall provide sufficient
soap, washbasins, and clean towels for that purpose.
(d) A person may not use tobacco in any form in any room in
which a bakery product is manufactured, wrapped, or prepared for
sale.
(e) A person with a communicable disease may not work in a
bakery, handle any product in the bakery, or deliver a product from
the bakery.
Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.
This is what I received from my local health department:
According to the Texas Food Establishment Rules (TFER), 229.167(d)(10), A private home, a room used as living or sleeping quarters, or an area directly opening into a room used as living or sleeping quarters may not be used for conducting food establishment operations. Therefore, we will not license the kitchen in your home for a catering business. If you use a room attached to your home as a kitchen for use in serving the public, it must have a solid wall to separate it from the rest of the house. You must also have an outside entrance so that we do not have to enter the home to inspect the kitchen. The kitchen used for catering may not be used by those not involved in the catering business to prepare food for personal consumption. Please contact me if you have further questions.
In other words, you must have an entirely seperate kitchen, or rent a licensed commercial kitchen. Texas is very, very strict with these rules. 
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