Food truck permits in Texas, TX

State rules: Texas

Version 1, published Oct 30, 2026. The city or county is the authority. Confirm with the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Retail Food Safety Operations before you apply.

• Permit

  DSHS mobile food vendor license, Type I (prepackaged food)

  Issued by Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS)

  $309 (Application fee $309 (includes the Texas Online fee). No pre-licensing inspection fee for Type I. A complaint or compliance inspection costs $300 if one is needed.)

  Every year

  From July 1, 2026 every mobile food vendor in Texas needs a mobile food vendor license from DSHS, one for each food vending vehicle. Local health departments no longer license mobile vendors (House Bill 2844, Health and Safety Code Chapter 437B). Type I covers vendors that sell only prepackaged food, including time/temperature-controlled foods that are not vacuum sealed or otherwise reduced-oxygen packaged: roadside vendors selling packaged meals, prepackaged ice cream, snacks and drinks. Apply through DSHS Online Licensing Services; DSHS then sends a letter to schedule the pre-licensing inspection. Truckiqo matches this to a 'Prepackaged' menu; confirm your type with DSHS.

  Applies to: prepackaged menus

  Renewal: The license expires one year from the date of the successfully completed pre-licensing inspection.

  Bring: Driver's license or CDL · Proof of insurance and TxDOT information · Records of loaded vehicle weight issued by TxDOT · Menu · Itinerary · Employee health policy · Food allergen poster · Source of your food products
  SourceLast checked Oct 30, 2026Checked 2026-10-30 against the DSHS Mobile Food Vendor Guide (updated May 2026), pages 3-5 and 13. dshs.texas.gov did not load from the review environment, so the guide was read from a copy at kvia.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/mobile-food-vendor-guide-1.pdf. Austin Public Health's mobile food vendor page confirms the July 1, 2026 state license.
• Permit

  DSHS mobile food vendor license, Type II (limited preparation)

  Issued by Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS)

  $1,018 (Application fee $618 (includes the Texas Online fee) plus a one-time $400 pre-licensing inspection fee, both paid when you apply. A $400 routine inspection fee and a $400 complaint or compliance inspection fee may also apply.)

  Every year

  From July 1, 2026 every mobile food vendor in Texas needs a mobile food vendor license from DSHS, one for each food vending vehicle (House Bill 2844, Health and Safety Code Chapter 437B). Type II covers vendors that sell vacuum-sealed or other reduced-oxygen packaged time/temperature-controlled foods, or prepare food for immediate consumption limited to cold holding, thawing or reheating commercially processed products: snow cone trailers, deli trailers, hot dog vendors and pushcarts. The vehicle needs potable water and wastewater tanks, a handwashing sink and a three-compartment sink with hot and cold water under pressure, and must stay readily movable. Apply through DSHS Online Licensing Services; DSHS then schedules the pre-licensing inspection. Truckiqo matches this to a 'Limited prep' menu; confirm your type with DSHS.

  Applies to: limited prep menus

  Renewal: The license expires one year from the date of the successfully completed pre-licensing inspection.

  Bring: Driver's license or CDL · Proof of insurance and TxDOT information · Records of loaded vehicle weight issued by TxDOT · Menu · Itinerary · Employee health policy · Food allergen poster · Certified food manager certificate (if time/temperature-controlled food is handled openly) · Food handler certificates · Central preparation facility authorization and its latest inspection (unless exempted) · Servicing area authorization and logs
  SourceLast checked Oct 30, 2026Checked 2026-10-30 against the DSHS Mobile Food Vendor Guide (updated May 2026), pages 3-9 and 13. dshs.texas.gov did not load from the review environment, so the guide was read from a copy at kvia.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/mobile-food-vendor-guide-1.pdf.
• Permit

  DSHS mobile food vendor license, Type III (full preparation)

  Issued by Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS)

  $1,376 (Application fee $876 (includes the Texas Online fee) plus a one-time $500 pre-licensing inspection fee, both paid when you apply. A $500 routine inspection fee and a $500 complaint or compliance inspection fee may also apply.)

  Every year

  From July 1, 2026 every mobile food vendor in Texas needs a mobile food vendor license from DSHS, one for each food vending vehicle (House Bill 2844, Health and Safety Code Chapter 437B). Type III covers vendors that prepare, cook, hold and serve food on the vehicle, including hot holding, cooling, thawing and reheating: raw or fresh hamburgers, tacos, gyros, sushi, BBQ. The vehicle needs potable water and wastewater tanks, a handwashing sink and a three-compartment sink with hot and cold water under pressure, and must stay readily movable. Apply through DSHS Online Licensing Services; DSHS then schedules the pre-licensing inspection. Truckiqo matches this to a 'Full prep' menu; confirm your type with DSHS.

  Applies to: full prep menus

  Renewal: The license expires one year from the date of the successfully completed pre-licensing inspection.

  Bring: Driver's license or CDL · Proof of insurance and TxDOT information · Records of loaded vehicle weight issued by TxDOT · Menu · Itinerary · Employee health policy · Food allergen poster · Certified food manager certificate (if time/temperature-controlled food is handled openly) · Food handler certificates · Central preparation facility authorization and its latest inspection (unless exempted) · Servicing area authorization and logs
  SourceLast checked Oct 30, 2026Checked 2026-10-30 against the DSHS Mobile Food Vendor Guide (updated May 2026), pages 3-9 and 13. dshs.texas.gov did not load from the review environment, so the guide was read from a copy at kvia.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/mobile-food-vendor-guide-1.pdf.
• Licence

  Certified food manager on staff

  Issued by A DSHS-licensed certified food manager program

  Set by the training program.

  Varies

  A certified food manager must be employed when time/temperature-controlled foods are prepared, and the certificate has to be shown at the DSHS pre-licensing inspection when such food is handled openly. Take the exam through a training program licensed by DSHS.

  Applies to: limited prep or full prep menus

  Renewal: The expiry date is printed on the certificate. Enter it so Truckiqo can remind you before it lapses.

  Bring: Certified food manager certificate
  SourceLast checked Oct 30, 2026Checked 2026-10-30 against the DSHS Mobile Food Vendor Guide (updated May 2026): page 9 (documentation for the pre-licensing inspection) and checklist item 10 on page 10. Read from the kvia.com copy because dshs.texas.gov did not load.
• Commissary

  Central preparation facility (commissary) authorization

  Issued by The central preparation facility you operate from

  Set by the facility.

  Varies

  Unless DSHS grants an exemption using its Central Preparation Facility / Commissary Exemption Checklist, the vehicle must operate from a central preparation facility or another approved fixed food establishment and report there for supplies, cleaning and servicing. If you don't own the facility, you need a signed letter of authorization, and the facility's most recent inspection must be kept on the vehicle. A private residence can't be used as a central preparation facility.

  Applies to: limited prep or full prep menus

  Renewal: No fixed term: keep the letter of authorization, the facility's latest inspection report and the facility logs current on the vehicle.

  Bring: Signed letter of authorization · The facility's most recent inspection report · Central preparation facility logs
  SourceLast checked Oct 30, 2026Checked 2026-10-30 against the DSHS Mobile Food Vendor Guide (updated May 2026), pages 5, 8, 12 and 14 (25 TAC 226.2(2), 226.6(c)(3), 226.8(c)(2)-(3)). Read from the kvia.com copy because dshs.texas.gov did not load.
• Other

  Servicing area authorization and activity log

  Issued by The servicing area operator

  Set by the servicing area operator.

  Varies

  Type II and Type III vehicles need an approved servicing area to fill the potable water tank and to empty grease, cooking waste and sewage from the wastewater tank, with an authorization letter and a log showing the date and time of each fill and disposal. A servicing area can't be at a private home or living quarters, and it may be separate from the central preparation facility. It isn't required where only packaged food is sold and the vehicle has no wastewater tank.

  Applies to: limited prep or full prep menus

  Renewal: No fixed term: keep the authorization letter and an up-to-date activity log on the vehicle.

  Bring: Servicing area authorization letter · Servicing area activity log
  SourceLast checked Oct 30, 2026Checked 2026-10-30 against the DSHS Mobile Food Vendor Guide (updated May 2026), pages 8-9 and 14 (25 TAC 226.1(18), 226.8(c)(4)(B), 228.221(c)(1)). Read from the kvia.com copy because dshs.texas.gov did not load.