Get Your Business Licensed and Permitted

Who needs a Short Term Rental Permit and how do I get one?

This permit is required if you own or operate a short-term rental in Manor, this includes any house, condo, or residential unit rented out for less than 30 days at a time. This applies whether you rent through Airbnb, VRBO, or other platforms. Hotels, motels, and bed & breakfasts are not included.

To apply, owners and operators should carefully review the City’s Short-Term Rental Ordinance (Ordinance No. 799), which outlines the full requirements, documentation, and process.

To operate a food establishment in Manor, you must obtain a Food Establishment Permit through the City of Austin’s Health Department.

Steps to obtain a permit:

1. Submit an application
   Complete the required application for a Fixed Food Establishment permit. Applications and detailed instructions are available on the City of Austin website.
   
2. Plan review
   If you are building a new establishment or remodeling an existing one, your plans must be reviewed and approved by the Health Department before construction begins.
3. Inspection
   Once your facility is ready, a health inspector will conduct a pre-operational inspection to verify compliance with state health laws and city regulations.

Renewals and Transfers:

• Food Establishment Permits must be renewed annually.
• Permits are not transferable between owners or locations.
• A valid permit must be posted and visible inside the establishment at all times.

A helpful resource and detailed guide for starting a food business in Austin can also be found here. For more guides, full requirements, applications, and fee information, visit the City of Austin Fixed Food Establishments page.

To sell alcoholic beverages, you need to obtain an Alcoholic Beverage Permit from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC). 

Before you begin, you must determine which TABC License Your Business Needs. Texas operates under a three-tier system. You can choose to be a manufacturer, distributor/wholesaler, or retailer. Pick the right license or permit for your business by visiting the TABC website here. 

For more information: 

The TABC offers a licensing course: https://www.tabc.texas.gov/texas-alcohol-laws-regulations/tabc-education/

In order for your business to serve alcohol, the City must issue you a permit and sign off on the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) application. Procedures for obtaining this permit are as follows:

• Contact the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) for an application. (Note: there are new TABC changes as of Sept.1, 2021)
• Complete the City of Manor Alcoholic Beverage Permit Application.
• File both of these completed applications with the City Secretary's Office.
• When the TABC (state) application is approved, bring your license or temporary receipt to the City Secretary's Office and pay the City Fee, which is one-half of the State Fee.

The City Secretary will contact the applicant when the TABC application has been approved and also when the City Permit is ready for pick up. Based on the type of permit the TABC approves, the City permit must be renewed every year or every two years. The City Permit and Receipt must be posted with the State permit at the place of business.

More Information:

https://www.manortx.gov/203/Alcohol-Beverage-Permit

What is a Mobile Food Vendor Permit?

It’s a license required by the City of Manor for certain types of mobile, temporary, or door-to-door commercial activity. It ensures vendors meet health, safety, zoning, and city-ordinance requirements.

Who needs one?

You’ll need a Vendor Permit if you fall into any of these categories:

• Mobile food establishments such as vendors selling food from a vehicle/portable unit that does not stay in one spot longer than 2 weeks. 
• Semi-permanent food operations like food service from a trailer or stand (no indoor entry by customers) at a fixed, non-residential location. 
• Temporary food vendors / booths operating under 14 days for an event (if serving open or perishable food, booths outside the mobile unit).
• Peddlers, solicitors, open-air vendors going door to door, selling goods from carts/stands, etc.

How do I get a Mobile Food Vendor Permit? 

The requirements to obtain a vendor permit will be dependent on the type of category your business falls under. You can find instructions for each of the above categories with requirements to obtain a permit with the City of Manor here.

In order to operate a food establishment, at least one of your employees must have a Food Manager Certificate issued by the State of Texas OR the City of Austin. As the owner of the business, you must post the food manager certificate in a prominent location in your food establishment. 

Exceptions to this rule apply if your business is:

• A food service establishment that provides only beverages or prepackaged food that is not a potentially hazardous food.
  
• A nonprofit organization that serves food only to members of the organization.
  
• A food processing plant that is inspected at least once each week by a state or federal food sanitation inspector or that only stores prepackaged food that is not potentially hazardous.
  
• A vending machine that offers only prepackaged food, if a certified food manager is in charge at the central preparation facility that supplies the products for the vending machine.

The Food Manager Certificate can be obtained by completing the steps listed on the Texas Department of State Health Services website. The employee must pass a DSHS or ANSI-CFP approved food manager certification examination. The examination may be taken at any accredited examination provider or training program. Certification is valid for five years.

More information can be found in the City of Manor's Code of Ordinances.

What is this license and who needs it?

The Used Automotive Parts Recycling / Boat Salvage Yard & Metal Recycling Entity License is required in Manor for businesses that dismantle, resell, or recycle auto parts, operate a boat salvage yard, or run a metal recycling facility involving vehicles and parts. If auto parts recycling is only occasional or incidental to your business, you may not need this license but if it’s a regular part of your operations, it applies.

Downloadable applications and annual fees based on your business type can be found on the Manor City website here. 

Ongoing requirements:

• Renew annually with updated documents and fee payment.
• Keep purchase and sales records of vehicles/parts, including seller information.
• Remove and properly handle license plates from salvaged vehicles.
• Maintain environmental permits and compliance at all times.
• Be prepared for periodic inspections by the city or state.

What is a Game Room License?

If you want to run a game room, you’ll need a Game Room License from the City of Manor. Your business would be considered a game room if it is open to the public and has one or more redemption machines. A “redemption machine” is basically any game or machine people play for fun (electronic or mechanical) where they can win prizes like toys, novelties, or other goodies based on chance, skill, or a mix of both.

How do I apply for a Game Room License? 

1. Complete the Game Room Application and the Game Room Criminal Check Release Form
2. Submit both items to the City of Manor permitting department via email (permits@manortx.gov). 
3. Make appropriate fee payment (application $200, license $100/machine, renewal $100 per machine). Payments can be made in-person (105 East Eggleston Street, Manor, TX 78653), mailed in (PO BOX 387, Manor, TX 78653) or via phone (512-272-5555, ext. 4).
4. An inspection will be performed by a Manor police officer to verify the number of game machines. After your facility has passed the inspection a license to operate will be granted.

What is a Recreational Vehicle Park Permit for and how do I get one?

If you plan to develop, operate, expand, or maintain an RV park (where two or more recreational vehicles rent or stay on pads), you’ll need an RV Park Permit.

To apply, owners and operators should carefully review the City’s Recreational Vehicle Parks Ordinance, which outlines the full requirements, documentation, and process.

What is a Specific Use Permit and do I need one for my Home-Based Daycare?

A Specific Use Permit (SUP) is a type of zoning approval that allows a property owner to use their land for a purpose that isn’t automatically allowed under its base zoning but that the city may allow under certain conditions.

If you run a daycare from your home for children not related to you (beyond incidental care), you’ll need a SUP under Manor’s zoning code. 

It’s important to note that a maximum of 6 children (including operator’s own children under 14) are allowed at any one time in a Home-Based Daycare. It will also be required to have a minimum of 150 square feet of floor area for each child (excluding storage, bathrooms, etc). Section 14.02.006

How do I apply for a SUP? 

For full details on obtaining a SUP for your Home-Based Daycare, please carefully review the Manor Code of Ordinance - Article 14.03.