Austin, TX — Food Truck permit
Austin's mobile-vending process is mid-transition: Austin Public Health issues Mobile Food Vendor permits only through June 30, 2026, then Texas HB 2844 moves all permitting to the state on July 1, 2026. Until then you apply in person — walk-in only, Tuesdays and Thursdays 7:45–11am — and any propane or grease-producing unit also needs an Austin Fire Department inspection.
Texas HB 2844 moves food-truck permitting from the City of Austin to the State of Texas on July 1, 2026. This page reflects the current city process through June 30, 2026 — we'll update it for the statewide DSHS permit on July 1, 2026.
Permit itself is cheap ($239–$309). Commissary and general-liability insurance are the real year-one cost.
What an Austin food truck permit looks like in 2026
An Austin food truck permit is in the middle of a once-in-a-generation regulatory handoff. Until June 30, 2026, Austin Public Health (APH) issues the city's Mobile Food Vendor permit — the same way it has for years. On July 1, 2026, Texas HB 2844 transfers all mobile-food permitting to the state, and the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) takes over. If you're applying right now, you're applying to APH; if you're planning a fall 2026 launch, you're planning around DSHS. Both pathways are documented below, and the page is verified for the transition.
What you actually need
The current Austin Mobile Food Vendor permit comes in two tiers: $239 for an Unrestricted permit (trucks that package or prepare food on board) and $309 for a Restricted permit (pre-packaged only). Both run for one year. Any truck with propane (LPG) or smoke- or grease-producing electric appliances also needs an Austin Fire Department mobile-vending inspection — a separate appointment that's been required since October 1, 2023. Application is in person only, walk-in, Tuesdays and Thursdays 7:45–11am at the APH offices. You cannot mail or email it in.
What it actually costs
The permits themselves are inexpensive — $239 to $309 plus AFD inspection fees. The year-one cost lives elsewhere: general liability insurance, commissary rent (Austin commissaries land in the $700–$1,400/month range), and the build-out itself. Total realistic first-year regulatory spend: $2,500–$6,000, with most of the variation in commissary tier and insurance.
How long it actually takes
Plan on 4–12 weeks end-to-end. The walk-in submission is the fast part; the queue is the scheduled inspection appointment, which is the most common stall reason — operators submit on Tuesday but can't get an inspection slot for weeks. Apply early and get on the inspection schedule the same day.
If you're operating in Texas, see also our Houston food truck permit guide — Houston is going through the same HB 2844 transition with a slightly different fee schedule.
Licenses
| License | Who needs it | Fee | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
Mobile Food Vendor permit — Unrestricted | Trucks that package and/or prepare food in the unit. (Note: despite allowing more, it's the cheaper of the two in the FY25–26 schedule.) | $239 | 1 year |
Mobile Food Vendor permit — Restricted | Trucks selling pre-packaged food only. | $309 | 1 year |
Austin Fire Department mobile-vending inspection | Required since Oct 1, 2023 for any unit with propane (LPG) or electric appliances that produce smoke or grease-laden vapors. | Varies Fee per AFD schedule; re-inspection fees apply if you miss/fail an appointment | Annual |
Statewide DSHS permit (from July 1, 2026) | Every Texas food truck once HB 2844 takes effect. Tier depends on how much you cook on board. | Varies Three tiers: $300–$1,350 initial + up to $500 inspection; $300–$850 annual renewal | 1 year |
Requirements
- Walk-in application — Tuesdays & Thursdays only, 7:45–11am
Applications are accepted in person at 1520 Rutherford Lane (NE corner of Rutherford @ Cameron Road, Building 1 East Entrance) only on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Do NOT bring your unit without an appointment — you will not be inspected, no exceptions. After your application is accepted and paid, you get an appointment card for the unit inspection.
- Notarized commissary / Central Preparation Facility agreement
Austin enforces the commissary requirement more strictly than most Texas jurisdictions. Without a signed agreement on file, the application is denied. Visit 2–3 commissaries before signing — some are overbooked or too far from your vending spots. (Note: HB 2844 removes the STATE-level commissary mandate July 1, 2026, but local expectations may persist — confirm before relying on it.)
- Propane (LPG) System Inspection Report
Required annually for any unit with LPG. Must be completed by a licensed LPG plumber before the AFD fire inspection. Propane piping under the vehicle must not be the first point of impact with the ground.
- Fire suppression system
Units permitted after May 1, 2022 with gas or electric appliances that produce grease-laden vapors (stove tops, flat tops, charcoal grills) must have an IFC-compliant fire suppression system.
- Floor plan, equipment list, water/wastewater & handwashing setup
The health inspector examines layout, equipment, potable water supply, wastewater disposal, a dedicated handwashing station, and food storage before issuing the permit.
- General liability insurance + Texas Food Handler / Manager certification
Standard. Food handler cards for staff; a certified food manager is expected.
Realistic timeline
| Phase | Duration | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Business setup | Week 1–2 | Entity, EIN, Texas sales tax permit, line up a commissary early. Stall: Commissary not secured before applying — the single most common cause of denial. |
| LPG + fire prep | Week 2–4 | Licensed LPG plumber completes the propane inspection report; install/verify fire suppression. |
| Walk-in application | A Tuesday or Thursday, 7:45–11am | Submit the full packet in person at 1520 Rutherford Lane and pay. Stall: Showing up any other day/time, or with a missing document — one missing item sends you back to the start, adding weeks. |
| Inspection appointment | Week 4–10 | Bring the unit on your assigned appointment for concurrent health + fire inspection at Rutherford Lane. Stall: Missing or being late for the appointment triggers a new fire-inspection fee to reschedule. |
| Permit issued | Week 6–12 | Permit issued after passing inspection. Plan for spring/summer backlogs. |
Common rejection / stall reasons
- Applying without a signed commissary agreement
Austin enforces commissary use strictly; no agreement on file means automatic denial.
- Trying to apply outside the Tues/Thurs 7:45–11am window
Applications are walk-in only on those mornings. There is no email/mail intake for the unit application.
- No propane inspection report from a licensed LPG plumber
Required annually before the AFD inspection for any LPG unit; without it the fire inspection can't pass.
- Missing fire suppression on a grease-vapor unit permitted after May 2022
IFC-compliant suppression is mandatory for cooking that produces grease-laden vapors.
- Not accounting for the July 1, 2026 statewide switch
After that date permitting moves from Austin Public Health to Texas DSHS. Applications near the cutoff need to confirm which framework applies.
Official sources
Contacts
- In-person application
- 1520 Rutherford Lane, Austin, TX 78754 — Bldg 1 East Entrance (Tue/Thu 7:45–11am)
- Austin Fire mobile vending
- AFDMobileVending@austintexas.gov
- City info line
- 311 (within Austin)
FAQ
- When can I submit my Austin food truck application?
- In person only, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:45–11am, at 1520 Rutherford Lane (Building 1 East Entrance). Don't bring your unit without an appointment — you won't be inspected. After the application is accepted and paid, you'll receive an appointment card for the inspection.
- What's the difference between Restricted and Unrestricted in Austin?
- Unrestricted ($239/yr) lets you package and/or prepare food in the unit. Restricted ($309/yr) is pre-packaged food only. Counterintuitively, the restricted permit carries the higher annual fee in the FY25–26 schedule.
- Do I need a fire inspection?
- Yes, if your unit uses propane (LPG) or electric appliances that produce smoke or grease-laden vapors — required since Oct 1, 2023. You'll also need an annual LPG inspection report from a licensed propane plumber, and (for units permitted after May 1, 2022 that produce grease-laden vapors) an IFC-compliant fire suppression system.
- How does Texas HB 2844 change things?
- Signed June 20, 2025, HB 2844 moves food-truck permitting from city health departments to the State of Texas (DSHS). Austin Public Health issues permits through June 30, 2026; the statewide permit takes over July 1, 2026. The state permit has three tiers ($300–$1,350 initial, $300–$850 renewal, up to $500 per inspection), drops the state commissary requirement, and creates a public database of trucks and inspection results.