Texas
As of July 1, 2026, Texas mobile food vendors must hold a statewide Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Mobile Food Vendor license. Austin no longer issues the old local health permit. You may still need an Austin Fire permit if you use propane or grease-laden cooking equipment.
Last checked 2026-11-09 (America/New_York).
House Bill 2844 (passed May 26, 2025) moved mobile food vendor licensing to DSHS. Previously, vendors needed licenses from each local health department they worked in. Beginning July 1, 2026, all mobile food vendors must be licensed with DSHS to operate a food vending vehicle in Texas. Until that date, vendors had to keep following their then-current local licensing jurisdiction. The license expires one year from the date of a successful pre-licensing inspection.
We only use verifiable sources. Every fee below links to its official page or PDF. Where an amount is not published, we point you to the office that issues it.
| Item | Amount | Term and source |
|---|---|---|
| DSHS MFV Type I — application fee No TCS (time/temperature control for safety) foods, or otherwise a low public-health risk. Examples: prepackaged ice cream or prepackaged non-TCS snacks. |
$309 | One year from successful pre-licensing inspection DSHS Mobile Food Vendors |
| DSHS MFV Type II — application fee Prepackaged TCS food with limited handling, or TCS food prepared to order and served immediately (examples: coffee trucks, snow cones, hot dogs). |
$618 | One year from successful pre-licensing inspection DSHS Mobile Food Vendors |
| DSHS MFV Type II — pre-licensing inspection fee Due at application, with the Type II application fee. |
$400 | One-time at initial application DSHS Mobile Food Vendors |
| DSHS MFV Type III — application fee Prepare, cook, hold, and serve food from the vehicle (examples: burger, BBQ, or taco trucks). Processes may include hot/cold holding, thawing, cooking, cooling, or reheating. |
$876 | One year from successful pre-licensing inspection DSHS Mobile Food Vendors |
| DSHS MFV Type III — pre-licensing inspection fee Due at application, with the Type III application fee. |
$500 | One-time at initial application DSHS Mobile Food Vendors |
| Austin Fire MFV fire inspection / annual permit Required for mobile food vendors operating in Austin that have propane, or any appliance (including electric) that produces grease-laden vapors. Not required for units with no propane and no cooking equipment (for example, ice cream or coffee only). Also applies to temporary and permanent vendors. |
$222 | Annual, issued after a passing inspection austintexas.gov Austin Fire |
Type I is low-risk / no TCS food. Type II covers limited TCS handling or made-to-order TCS food. Type III covers full cook-and-hold service. Application fees include a Texas Online fee. Both the application fee and any pre-licensing inspection fee are due when you apply.
Apply for the statewide MFV license with DSHS. After DSHS processes the application, you are contacted to schedule a pre-licensing inspection. New vendors without an existing Texas local license may not operate until that inspection is successfully completed. If you already held a local health department MFU/MFV license in Texas and submitted proof plus payment, DSHS has described a transition path that lets you keep operating with your application summary and payment receipt on the vehicle until the pre-licensing inspection is done — check current transition rules on the DSHS page.
The license is granted after a successful pre-licensing inspection and expires one year from that inspection date. Type II and Type III also have published routine and complaint/compliance inspection fees that may apply later ($400 / $400 for Type II; $500 / $500 for Type III; Type I has a $300 complaint/compliance fee and no routine inspection fee listed).
Apply with the online MFV permit application (you need an AB+C portal ID for billing). Austin Fire processes the application, invoices a $222 inspection fee, and performs the inspection. A failed, late, or missed appointment requires paying a new fee to reschedule. Vendors outside the City of Austin but in Travis County must go through the Travis County Fire Marshal, not AFD. Email [email protected] if you need help determining jurisdiction.
The statewide DSHS license replaces local health-department food-vendor licenses. It does not automatically waive city fire, right-of-way, parking, event, or zoning rules. Check current Austin location and event requirements with the City. Contact the City for any remaining local vending or site fees.
Ask DSHS which central preparation or servicing-area paperwork your license type needs. Several Austin kitchens publish CPF or servicing-area contracts; ask each kitchen whether it can support your DSHS file.
For new Austin Fire permits after May 1, 2022, AFD lists a 2A10BC extinguisher, a propane system report from a licensed LPG plumber when applicable, a Class 1 hood automatic fire suppression system with a current semi-annual tag, a Class K extinguisher, an explosive-gas detector, and a one-time electrical inspection report on the AFD form completed by a master electrician. Renewals of permits issued before May 1, 2022 follow a different, shorter list. Read the official AFD page for the checklist that applies to you.
DSHS contact published on the MFV page: [email protected] or 512-406-2644.
Map pins use OpenStreetMap. Listings are not a complete official directory.
1606 W Stassney Ln #1, Austin, TX 78745
Describes itself as an authorized servicing area and central preparation facility for mobile vendors. Ask the kitchen about current capacity and any post-July 2026 DSHS paperwork.
Last checked 2026-11-09. Ask the kitchen whether it can sign your official commissary paperwork before you rely on it.
1023 Springdale Rd, Austin, TX
Austin location listed on the operator’s mobile-vendor page alongside other Texas locations. Ask the kitchen about services and availability.
Last checked 2026-11-09. Ask the kitchen whether it can sign your official commissary paperwork before you rely on it.
8309 Research Blvd, Austin, TX 78758
Shared commercial kitchen in Austin. Ask whether they will contract as a commissary or CPF for your DSHS license type.
Last checked 2026-11-09. Ask the kitchen whether it can sign your official commissary paperwork before you rely on it.
8650 Spicewood Springs Rd. #115, Austin, TX 78759
Lists services for mobile vendors and farmers markets. Ask the kitchen about current authorization and hours.
Last checked 2026-11-09. Ask the kitchen whether it can sign your official commissary paperwork before you rely on it.
3400 Comsouth Drive, Austin, TX 78744
Publishes SAA/CPF-style contracts for mobile vending units. Ask the kitchen about its current offering.
Last checked 2026-11-09. Ask the kitchen whether it can sign your official commissary paperwork before you rely on it.
FoodTruck Ready is not affiliated with the City of Austin or the Texas Department of State Health Services. It is a practical summary by Thirty and Beyond, LLC. Check the linked official sources before you spend money or start construction.
