Dallas, TX — Food Truck permit
Dallas food trucks now license through the statewide Texas DSHS permit under HB 2844 (effective July 1, 2026) — replacing the old split system where both Dallas County HHS and the City of Dallas issued health permits. Dallas keeps the local layers: a Dallas Fire-Rescue inspection for cooking units, and a commissary. State tiers run ~$309–$1,376 up front.
Texas HB 2844 moved food-truck health permitting to the State of Texas (DSHS) on July 1, 2026, replacing the Dallas County HHS and City of Dallas permits. Dallas Fire-Rescue still inspects cooking units and zoning is still local. Confirm the current DSHS process before applying.
DSHS tier ($309–$1,376 up front) is modest; commissary rent ($200–$450/mo) and general-liability insurance dominate year one.
What a Dallas food truck permit looks like in 2026
Dallas just got simpler in one way and not in another. Historically, a Dallas food truck dealt with a split health system — Dallas County Health & Human Services issued Mobile Food Establishment permits, and the City of Dallas Consumer Health ran its own permit for trucks inside city limits. As of July 1, 2026, Texas HB 2844 collapses that health-permit layer into a single statewide DSHS license. What stays local is the fire inspection and zoning.
What you actually need
- DSHS Mobile Food Unit license (statewide) — tiered by how much you cook on board: roughly $309 (Type I, prepackaged), ~$1,018 (Type II, cook-serve), or ~$1,376 (Type III, complex prep) up front, with $300–$850 annual renewal. This replaces the county and city health permits.
- Dallas Fire-Rescue inspection — for any unit with cooking equipment: a commercial fire suppression system, a Class K extinguisher, and proper ventilation. Fire authority did not move to the state.
- Commissary — Dallas requires an approved commissary for prep, water, waste, and storage; budget $200–$450/month.
- Registered/Certified Food Manager — at least one, plus food-handler training for staff.
What it actually costs
The permit is the small number; commissary rent and insurance dominate. Realistic first-year regulatory spend lands at $3,000–$10,000 depending on your DSHS tier, commissary, and how much insurance the venues you serve require.
How long it actually takes
Plan on 4–8 weeks under the DSHS process — application and pre-licensing inspection, plus the Dallas Fire-Rescue inspection for cooking units. The state process is new in mid-2026, so timelines are still settling.
Operating elsewhere in Texas too? The Texas HB 2844 guide covers the statewide license, and our Austin and Houston guides cover the same transition in those metros.
Licenses
| License | Who needs it | Fee | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
Texas DSHS Mobile Food Unit License (statewide) | Every Texas food truck under HB 2844 (from July 1, 2026). Tier depends on how much you cook on board. | Varies Three tiers: ~$309 (Type I, prepackaged) / ~$1,018 (Type II, cook-serve, incl. inspection) / ~$1,376 (Type III, complex prep); $300–$850 annual renewal. Replaces the county/city health permits as of July 1, 2026. | 1 year |
Dallas Fire-Rescue inspection | Cooking units: commercial fire suppression, Class K extinguisher, proper ventilation. | Varies Fee varies. Required for any unit with cooking equipment — fire authority stays local. | Annual |
Dallas County HHS Mobile Food Establishment permit (legacy) | Operators permitted before the July 1, 2026 transition. | Varies Legacy county permit (~$200–$500/yr + plan review). Replaced by the DSHS license July 1, 2026. | 1 year |
City of Dallas Consumer Health MFU permit (legacy) | Trucks formerly operating inside City of Dallas limits before the transition. | Varies Legacy city permit (app ~$481 + plan review ~$562 + ~$185 annual). Replaced by the DSHS license. | 1 year |
Requirements
- Commissary / Central Preparation Facility agreement
Dallas requires an approved commissary for prep, water, wastewater/grease disposal, storage, and cleaning. Have a signed agreement before you apply.
Cost: $200–$450/month
- Fire suppression + Class K extinguisher
Cooking units need a commercial automatic fire suppression system (NFPA 96), a Class K extinguisher, proper ventilation, and secured propane — inspected by Dallas Fire-Rescue.
- Certified/Registered Food Manager
At least one certified food manager, plus food-handler training for staff.
- DSHS application + pre-licensing inspection
Apply through DSHS Online Licensing Services; after processing you receive a letter to schedule the pre-licensing inspection (Type II/III).
- Texas business registration, sales tax, insurance
Entity + EIN, Texas sales tax permit, and general liability insurance.
Realistic timeline
| Phase | Duration | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Classify your tier + business setup | Week 1–2 | Determine Type I/II/III by menu; form the entity, get an EIN and Texas sales tax permit; line up a commissary. Stall: Choosing a tier that doesn't match your menu — it surfaces at inspection and restarts review. |
| DSHS application | Week 1–4 | Apply via DSHS Online Licensing Services with your commissary agreement; pay the tier fee. |
| Inspections | Week 3–7 | Pass the DSHS pre-licensing inspection and the Dallas Fire-Rescue inspection (cooking units). Stall: Booking the fire inspection late — schedule it as soon as the build is final. |
| License issued + operate | Week 4–8 | Keep the DSHS application summary, commissary agreement, and fire/manager certs on the truck. |
Common rejection / stall reasons
- Assuming the county or city still issues the health permit
As of July 1, 2026, the health permit is the statewide DSHS license — not Dallas County HHS or City of Dallas. New applicants go to DSHS.
- Picking the wrong DSHS tier
Type I/II/III is set by how much you cook on board; a mismatch with your menu surfaces at inspection and restarts the process.
- No signed commissary agreement
Dallas requires an approved commissary; the application isn't complete without it.
- Skipping the Dallas Fire-Rescue inspection
Fire authority stays local — cooking units still need the suppression system and Fire-Rescue inspection regardless of the state license.
- Missing the 7-day itinerary rule
The DSHS framework requires publishing planned locations/dates at least 7 days ahead; a consistent social-media schedule satisfies it.
Official sources
Contacts
- Dallas County HHS
- Environmental Health — Mobile Food Units
- City of Dallas
- Code Compliance — Consumer Health
- Texas DSHS
- Online Licensing Services — dshs.texas.gov
FAQ
- Who issues Dallas food truck permits in 2026?
- As of July 1, 2026, the health permit is the statewide Texas DSHS Mobile Food Unit license under HB 2844 — it replaced the old split system where Dallas County HHS and the City of Dallas each issued permits. You still deal with Dallas Fire-Rescue for the fire inspection (cooking units) and the city for zoning.
- How much does a Dallas food truck permit cost?
- The DSHS license is tiered: roughly $309 (Type I), about $1,018 (Type II, cook-serve), or about $1,376 (Type III, complex prep) up front, with $300–$850 annual renewal. Add commissary rent ($200–$450/month) and insurance; realistic first-year regulatory spend is $3,000–$10,000.
- Do I need a commissary for a Dallas food truck?
- Yes. Dallas requires an approved commissary for food prep, water, wastewater and grease disposal, storage, and cleaning, and you'll need a signed commissary agreement before your application is complete. Budget $200–$450/month.
- Does Dallas still inspect food trucks after HB 2844?
- Yes — for fire safety. HB 2844 moved the health permit to the state, but Dallas Fire-Rescue still inspects cooking units for a commercial suppression system, Class K extinguisher, and ventilation. Zoning is also still local.
- What happened to my old Dallas County or City of Dallas permit?
- Those health permits are replaced by the statewide DSHS license as of July 1, 2026. Move to the DSHS system: apply through Online Licensing Services, attach proof of your prior permit, pay your tier fee, and keep the printed application summary on the truck.