Licensing Requirements - Milk and Dairy

Application forms, rules and regulations, and any other applicable information, can be mailed to you upon request, or can be picked up in-person at our Austin office.  

If requesting an application over the phone, you will be asked to provide the following information: 

• Your Name (or the name of the individual who needs the application packet) 

• Firm Name 

• Mailing Address, including city, state and ZIP code 

• Physical location requiring licensure 

• Telephone Number  

• Fax Number (if applicable) 

• Activity(ies) or type of application needed

Completed applications (with appropriate fees) must be sent to the address at the top of the application form. Firms submitting applications must retain a copy of the completed application and payment.  

Applications will be processed within a 4 to 6-week time period. Licenses are printed each Wednesday and are mailed by Friday. 

A license cannot be issued from an incomplete application. Incomplete applications will be returned to the sender if any required information is missing. 

• Application forms must be signed, either by the owner of a sole-proprietorship, partner of a partnership, president of a corporation, or a corporate designee. 

• Fees are non-refundable. 

• If you need a retail permit, please make certain that there is no local authority that requires you to permit before you contact this office. DSHS only issues permits for retail areas not under local jurisdiction. 

• You must provide the date you began operating the regulated activity at your business on the “Purpose of Application” section of the application. All fees and late fees must be submitted prior to receiving a current license/permit. 

Incomplete applications (including lack of fee payment) will result in delays in issuing a license. DSHS will mail you a letter to resolve any incomplete information, but if we have not received your reply within 135 days, your application will be considered withdrawn pursuant to the Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Chapter 229, §229.281(c)(3) related to Time Periods:  

25TAC §229.281(c)(3) If the applicant fails to submit the requested information and/or fee within 135 days of the date the department issued the written notice to the applicant as described in paragraph (1) of this subsection, that the application is incomplete and/or additional fees are owed, the application is considered withdrawn. Fees paid are not refundable. There will be no refund of the fee except as provided by subsections (d) and (f) of this section. A new application and fee must be submitted to the department. 

The Milk Unit is pleased to provide licensees a convenient online option for paying license renewal fees. 

Who May Renew Online? 

Firms may renew their license(s) online during the eligibility period beginning 60 days prior to the license expiration date and ending on the license expiration date. 

The following license types are eligible for online renewals: 

• In-State Frozen Dessert Manufacturers 

• In-State Milk or Dairy Products Processor 

• Milk Tank Truck 

• Producer Dairy 

• Retail Raw Dairy 

• Transfer and/or Receiving Station 

Steps for Renewing 

1. Verify that your license type is eligible for online renewal. 

2. Login or register on the Regulatory Services Online Licensing website. 

3. Complete your online renewal and pay any necessary renewal fees. Renewal forms must be completed, signed and returned to the Milk Unit with any other required documentation by mail or fax before the renewal process is complete. 

4. The Milk Unit will mail* your renewed license once they have received the completed renewal form and any other required documentation.  

*The renewed license will be issued and mailed to the licensee at the address on record. 

One-Time Proration of Expiration Date for Food Businesses 

A firm that has multiple business locations may request a one-time proration of application fees for each new location. Upon DSHS approval, the license expiration date for the new location will be changed to match the license expiration date for the firm’s other locations. 

 
The firm must email the Foods Licensing Unit before submitting the initial application. Be sure to include the following information: 

• Type of license they will be applying for. 

• Applicable fee level (on Page 1 of application). 

• Expiration date of their previously licensed locations. 

Detention Releases 

Excluding detention releases, no further letters of licensure will be issued. 

If the application and fee are being submitted to release a detention, a copy of the application and cashier’s office receipt must be sent to the appropriate section personnel located at 1100 W. 49th Street, Austin, TX 78756.  

Upon review and acceptance of the application and receipt, a "disposition of detention" will be issued to you.