Food Truck Permits in Texas
Last verified against official sources on by Amrit. How we verify
Since July 1, 2026, you need a Mobile Food Vendor license from the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to run a food truck anywhere in Texas. You need one license for each truck, and it works statewide, so cities no longer issue their own food truck health permits. Your truck must pass a health inspection before the license is issued. Cities and counties still set fire, zoning and location rules, so check with the fire marshal where you plan to sell.[1][5][7]
At a glance
| Permit needed | Yes. A DSHS Mobile Food Vendor license, one per truck, good anywhere in Texas[7][1] |
|---|---|
| License types | Type I (prepackaged, low risk), Type II (limited prep, like coffee or hot dogs), Type III (full cooking, like tacos, burgers or BBQ)[5] |
| State fees due when you apply | Type I: $309. Type II: $618 plus a $400 pre-licensing inspection fee ($1,018 in all). Type III: $876 plus a $500 pre-licensing inspection fee ($1,376 in all). These include the Texas.gov fee. Type II and III may also owe a $400 or $500 routine inspection fee[5][6] |
| License lasts | One year, then you renew[4] |
| Commissary | Required unless your truck qualifies for the state exemption. A private home can't be your commissary[4][6] |
| Training | If you handle unpackaged food that needs temperature control (TCS food), a certified food manager must be there whenever you are open. Every other worker who prepares or serves food needs a food handler course within 30 days[4] |
| Fire safety | Set locally. Follow the fire code of each city or county where you sell[1] |
| Sales tax permit | Yes, from the Texas Comptroller. It is free, but you may have to post a security bond[13] |
| Agency | Texas DSHS Mobile Food Vendor Program, MobileFoodVendor@dshs.texas.gov, 512-406-2644[5] |
Step by step
Do these in order. Each step links to the official form or page.
Work out your license type
Your type depends on what you do on the truck. Type I sells prepackaged food that doesn't need temperature control. Type II does limited prep, like reheating or serving made-to-order items such as coffee or hot dogs. Type III cooks, cools or hot-holds food, like a taco or BBQ truck. "TCS" food means food that needs time and temperature control to stay safe.[5]
Get a sales tax permit from the Comptroller
If you sell goods in Texas, you need a Texas sales and use tax permit. There is no fee, but the Comptroller may ask you to post a security bond. The business name on your DSHS application should match what the Comptroller has on file, so it helps to do this first.[13][14][9]
Get your food safety certificates
If you handle unpackaged TCS food (food that needs time and temperature control to stay safe), a certified food protection manager must be on the truck during all hours you are open. You become one by passing an approved exam. Everyone else who prepares or serves food needs an accredited food handler course within 30 days of starting. Type I trucks, and trucks that never handle unpackaged TCS food, do not need a certified manager.[4][12]
Build or buy a truck that meets the state rules
The truck must stay readily movable, with no permanent hookups. It must be enclosed (pushcarts and roadside vendors are the exceptions). It needs a permanently installed fresh water tank, a wastewater tank at least 15% bigger than the fresh water tank, a handwashing sink and a three-compartment sink, with hot and cold water under pressure at every sink. DSHS says a trailer or truck without built-in water tanks is not designed to be licensed as a mobile food vendor. Use the DSHS checklist in the Mobile Food Vendor Guide before you buy.[6][8]
Line up a commissary and a servicing area, or qualify for the exemption
A commissary (the rules call it a central preparation facility, or CPF) is a fixed food business that serves as your base for supplies, cleaning and servicing the truck. You need one unless your truck meets every condition of the state exemption, which the inspector checks. The conditions include having enough equipment on the truck to keep food hot and cold, and keeping records of where you get water and dump wastewater. If you don't own the commissary or servicing area, get a signed letter of authorization from the owner. Keep a log on the truck of every water fill and waste dump.[4][6]
Apply to DSHS online and pay
Apply through the DSHS Online Licensing system: choose Retail Food Program, then Mobile Food Vendor Initial Application. For each truck you list the vehicle details, proof of insurance and proof of vehicle weight from TxDOT, plus where you plan to sell. You must give a notarized statement that the information is true. Pay the application fee and, for Type II and III, the pre-licensing inspection fee when you apply. These amounts include the Texas.gov online fee. Each truck is charged separately.[9][4][5]
Pass the pre-licensing inspection
After DSHS processes your application, you get a letter asking you to schedule the inspection. The law says the inspection must happen within 14 days of a complete application. In some areas a local health department does it for the state. Have your food manager certificate, commissary and servicing area papers, and your menu ready. Everything on the truck must work during the inspection, including the sinks, refrigeration and wastewater system. If you are new and had no Texas license before, you can't sell until you pass.[6][1][10][4][5]
Get local fire approval and check where you can park
The state license does not replace local rules. Each city or county still enforces its own fire code, zoning and location rules. Some cities, like Houston, require a fire marshal permit if you use propane. Call the fire marshal and planning office for each place you plan to sell.[1][16]
Display your license, share your schedule and renew every year
Post your license and inspection certificate where customers can see them. Tell DSHS where and when you'll be selling at least seven days ahead, either on your website or social media or directly to DSHS. Renew before the license expires each year. A late renewal costs an extra $100.[1][4]
Local rules
These places add their own requirements on top of the state rules.
- Houston: City of Houston food truck permits and medallions stopped being valid after June 2026, and you now need the DSHS license. Houston still inspects trucks, but on the state's behalf. If you use propane (LP-gas), you also need a Houston Fire Marshal's permit: an annual permit if you sell regularly at an address in the city, or a temporary permit for an event. Within the city, only approved servicing areas may take your wastewater and supply your water.[15][16]
- Austin and Travis County: The City of Austin has handed its food truck program to DSHS, so you need the DSHS license. For fire applications and inspections, contact the Austin Fire Department or the Travis County Fire Marshal.[17]
- Dallas: Dallas repealed its own mobile food permit (Ordinance No. 33283). You need the DSHS license. You must still follow Dallas rules on zoning, fire safety, property use and location.[18]
What it costs
| Step | Fee |
|---|---|
| Get a sales tax permit from the Comptroller | Free |
| Apply to DSHS online and pay | $309 to $1,376 (per truck, depending on license type: $309 (Type I), $1,018 (Type II) or $1,376 (Type III); includes the Texas.gov fee) |
| Get local fire approval and check where you can park | Set by each city or county fire marshal |
| Total if every fee applies to you | $309 to $1,376 |
Not included in the total because the fee is set locally: Get local fire approval and check where you can park.
Recent changes
- : House Bill 2844 takes effect. Every food truck now needs one statewide DSHS Mobile Food Vendor license per vehicle, and local health departments stop issuing food truck permits. Cities can't ban a licensed vendor who follows other state and local laws.[1][5]
- : The new state rules for mobile food vendors (25 Texas Administrative Code Chapter 226) take effect. They set the license types, fees, commissary exemption and inspection rules.[4]
- : Senate Bill 1008 takes effect. Cities, counties and health districts can only require food permits the state itself would require, and generally can't charge more than the state's fee. Some exceptions apply, such as a fee of up to 120% when a local health department says it needs it for safety staffing.[3]
- : Governor Abbott signs House Bill 2844, creating the statewide mobile food vendor license.[2][6]
Frequently asked questions
Do I still need a separate health permit for every city I sell in?
No. The DSHS license works in every city and county in Texas, and a city can't ban you if you hold it and follow other state and local laws. You still have to follow each city's fire, zoning and location rules.[7][1]
I had a city or county food truck permit before July 2026. Can I keep selling while I wait for my state inspection?
Yes, if you held a current local health department license, sent proof of it with your DSHS application and paid the fees. Keep the printed application summary and payment receipt on the truck at all times until your inspection is done.[6]
Can I use my home kitchen as my commissary?
No. A private home can't serve as your commissary or servicing area, and you can't fill your water tank from a private home or an untested well.[6][4]
Do I need a fire inspection in every city?
It depends on the city. State law says you must follow the fire code wherever you sell. The law also stops DSHS's own rules from making you take an extra fire inspection if you passed one in the last 12 months, but that limit is on DSHS rules. Ask the fire marshal in each city whether they will accept an inspection from somewhere else.[1]
Do I have to tell the state where my truck will be?
Yes. DSHS plans random inspections of every truck each year and must be able to find you, so you must share a list of where and when you plan to sell at least seven days ahead. Posting it on your website or social media counts.[4]
Can I license an open-air BBQ trailer or a concession trailer without water tanks?
Not as a mobile food vendor. DSHS says trailers and trucks without a built-in water system, and open-air trailers, aren't designed to be licensed this way. You may be able to get a temporary food permit for fairs and festivals instead.[8]
Does a city make me register my food handler card or pay a fee for it?
No. A food handler card from an accredited program is valid statewide, and a local health department can't charge you a fee or make you get a local card.[11]
Sources
- H.B. 2844, 89th Legislature (R), Enrolled version (adds Health and Safety Code Chapter 437B, Mobile Food Vendors), Texas Legislature. Checked October 24, 2026.
- History for HB 2844, 89(R), Texas Legislature Online. Checked October 24, 2026.
- S.B. 1008, 89th Legislature (R), Enrolled version (state and local authority to regulate the food service industry), Texas Legislature. Checked October 24, 2026.
- Texas Register, May 15, 2026, Adopted Rules: 25 TAC Chapter 226, Mobile Food Vendors, Texas Secretary of State. Checked October 24, 2026.
- Mobile Food Vendors, Texas Department of State Health Services. Checked October 24, 2026.
- Mobile Food Vendor Guide, Texas Department of State Health Services. Checked October 24, 2026.
- What Mobile Food Vendors Need to Know About License Changes, Texas Department of State Health Services. Checked October 24, 2026.
- Who Should Be Licensed as a Mobile Food Vendor?, Texas Department of State Health Services. Checked October 24, 2026.
- How to Submit a Mobile Food Vendor (MFV) License Application, Texas Department of State Health Services. Checked October 24, 2026.
- Local Agencies Helping Conduct Inspections of MFVs, Texas Department of State Health Services. Checked October 24, 2026.
- Frequently Asked Questions - Food Handler Education or Training Programs, Texas Department of State Health Services. Checked October 24, 2026.
- Frequently Asked Questions - Certified Food Manager (CFM) Program, Texas Department of State Health Services. Checked October 24, 2026.
- Sales and Use Tax Frequently Asked Questions: Permits, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Checked October 24, 2026.
- Texas Online Tax Registration Application, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Checked October 24, 2026.
- Mobile Food Units, Houston Health Department. Checked October 24, 2026.
- Houston Fire Marshal Office - Food Trucks, City of Houston Fire Department. Checked October 24, 2026.
- Mobile Food Vendors, Austin Public Health, City of Austin. Checked October 24, 2026.
- Mobile Food Permits, City of Dallas Code Compliance, Consumer Health. Checked October 24, 2026.
Related
This page is general information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change. Before you apply or start selling, confirm the details with Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Mobile Food Vendor Program or your local health department. Spotted something wrong or out of date?Report it and we will check it.