Houston, TX — Food Truck permit (DSHS Mobile Food Unit License)
Houston no longer issues its own food truck health permit. Since July 1, 2026, the statewide DSHS Mobile Food Unit License under Texas HB 2844 has been the licensing route for every truck in the state, including Harris County — the Houston Health Department stopped taking new Mobile Food Unit plan-review applications on May 15, 2026 and City of Houston medallions expired after June 2026. What stays local is fire: the Houston Fire Code LP-Gas certificate is $225.14 a year, and a Central Preparation Facility (commissary) is still the practical gate.
In Houston, TX, operating a food truck requires 6 permits or licenses. The DSHS Mobile Food Vendor license — Type III costs $876. A realistic end-to-end timeline is 6–8 weeks, and first-year regulatory cost runs $3,000–$12,000. Verified August 9, 2026.
Texas HB 2844 moved Houston food-truck health permitting to the State of Texas (DSHS) on July 1, 2026. The Houston Health Department stopped accepting new Mobile Food Unit plan-review applications on May 15, 2026, and City of Houston medallions expired after June 2026 — apply to DSHS, not the city. Houston Fire still inspects LP-gas and zoning is still local. Confirm the current DSHS process and tier fees before applying.
A Type III truck pays $1,376 to DSHS plus $225.14 to Houston Fire — about $1,601 before rent. Commissary ($150–$800/mo) and insurance drive the rest. Excludes the truck build.
What a Houston food truck permit looks like in 2026
A Houston food truck permit is no longer a Houston document. The City of Houston Health Department issued Mobile Food Unit medallions for decades, but the city stopped accepting new plan-review applications on May 15, 2026, and existing medallions expired after June 2026. Since July 1, 2026, the statewide DSHS Mobile Food Unit License under Texas HB 2844 has covered every food truck operating in the state, Harris County included. Whether you are renewing or starting fresh, you now apply to DSHS — not to the city.
What you actually need
Three things, and only the middle one is a Houston document.
The DSHS Mobile Food Unit License is tiered by how much you cook on board. Type I is $309 (prepackaged, non-TCS — no pre-licensing inspection fee). Type II is $618 plus a $400 pre-licensing inspection, $1,018 to start. Type III — the default for any truck with a grill or fryer — is $876 plus a $500 pre-licensing inspection, $1,376 to start. Application fees include a Texas Online fee.
Locally, Houston Fire still governs flame: a $225.14 Houston Fire Code Certificate of Compliance (LP-Gas) for any propane, natural gas or solid-fuel cooking. The Fire Marshal's Office has 90 calendar days to approve the annual LP-gas permit, and every LP-gas appliance must carry a current inspection sticker from a licensed LP-gas company.
And the Central Preparation Facility (commissary) is still required — this is the single most misreported part of HB 2844. Under 25 TAC §226.6(c) a mobile food vendor must still operate from a CPF unless it can demonstrate it qualifies for an exemption, and the rule puts the onus on the vendor. Budget for a commissary unless you have written confirmation you are exempt.
One genuinely new obligation: §226.8(e) requires you to publish your planned operating location — on social media, on your own website, or directly to DSHS. Local ordinances still apply wherever they don't conflict with Chapter 437B (§226.1(c)(2)), so Houston zoning and fire remain live.
What it actually costs
A Type III cooking truck pays $1,376 to DSHS at submission plus $225.14 to Houston Fire — about $1,601 before you rent anything. That is materially more than the old $708 medallion, and it is still not the number that decides your year.
Commissary rent does. Houston CPFs run $150–$800/month, so $1,800–$9,600 a year, and general liability insurance follows. Realistic first-year regulatory spend lands at $3,000–$12,000, with the spread driven almost entirely by commissary tier and how much coverage the venues you serve demand. Excludes the truck build.
How long it actually takes
Plan on 6–8 weeks end-to-end. Two things gate it: the DSHS pre-licensing inspection for Type II and Type III, and the Houston Fire Marshal's LP-gas approval, which the office may take up to 90 calendar days to issue. Start the fire permit early — it is the long pole, not the licence.
If you're operating in Texas, see also our Austin food truck permit guide — same HB 2844 transition, slightly different city-level fee structure.
Licenses
| License | Who needs it | Fee | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
DSHS Mobile Food Vendor license — Type III | Trucks that prepare, cook, hold, cool or reheat on board — grills, fryers, griddles. The default tier for a Houston cooking truck. | $876 Official DSHS fee schedule: $876 application plus a $500 pre-licensing inspection fee, both due at submission — $1,376 total to start. Application fees include a Texas Online fee. Type III also carries a $500 routine inspection fee and a $500 complaint/compliance inspection fee where applicable. | Expires one year from the date of the successfully completed pre-licensing inspection |
DSHS Mobile Food Vendor license — Type II | Prepackaged TCS food needing limited handling, or TCS food prepared to order for immediate service — cold holding, thawing, reheating commercially processed products. Coffee, hot dog and snow cone units. | $618 Official DSHS fee schedule: $618 application plus a $400 pre-licensing inspection fee, both due at submission — $1,018 total. Type II also carries a $400 routine inspection fee and a $400 complaint/compliance inspection fee where applicable. | Expires one year from the date of the successfully completed pre-licensing inspection |
DSHS Mobile Food Vendor license — Type I | No TCS foods, or otherwise low risk — prepackaged ice cream and non-TCS snack vendors. | $309 Official DSHS fee schedule: $309 application, with no pre-licensing inspection fee and no routine inspection fee. A $300 complaint/compliance inspection fee applies if one is triggered. | Expires one year from the date of the successfully completed pre-licensing inspection |
Houston Fire Code Certificate of Compliance (LP-Gas) | Nearly all cooking trucks — any open-flame cooking (propane, natural gas, solid fuel). | $225 Published Houston Fire Department fee, filed at 1002 Washington Avenue. The Fire Marshal's Office has up to 90 calendar days to approve the annual LP-gas permit, and every LP-gas appliance must display a current 12-month inspection sticker from a licensed LP-gas company. | Annual |
DSHS license renewal | Every licensed mobile food vendor, on the anniversary of its pre-licensing inspection. | Varies Varies — DSHS publishes application, pre-licensing, routine and complaint inspection fees, but a separate renewal figure was not verifiable on the official fee table at the time of writing. Pre-launch reporting cited $300–$850 a year depending on tier. Confirm with DSHS at (512) 406-2644 before budgeting year two. | Annual |
Mobile Food Unit Medallion (City of Houston) — retired | Nobody new — the city stopped issuing these. Shown so operators recognise the old medallion. | $708 Legacy city permit. Expired after June 2026; listed for historical reference only. | 1 year |
Filling these Houston forms
Every application above asks for the same details — business name, owner, EIN, license numbers, commissary address, insurance carrier and policy number. AutoFill PDFs reads the 6 applications and fills them from one saved vendor profile, whether the form is a fillable PDF or a flat scan. You review every field before you download and submit.
Free plan — 10 credits/month, no credit card required.
Requirements
- Planned-location notification (new under §226.8(e))
DSHS requires a mobile food vendor to publish where it plans to operate — on social media, on the operator's own website, or by notifying DSHS directly. It underpins the state's randomised inspection programme, and it is a genuinely new obligation that did not exist under the city medallion.
- Central Preparation Facility (commissary) agreement — still required
Under 25 TAC §226.6(c) a mobile food vendor must still operate from a licensed Central Preparation Facility unless it demonstrates it qualifies for an exemption — the onus is on the vendor. Prep, storage, cleaning and wastewater disposal run through the CPF, and you report to it for supplies and servicing. HB 2844 did not remove this. Budget $150–$800/month in Houston.
Cost: $150–$800/month
- Fire suppression + Class K extinguisher
An Ansul (or equivalent) automatic fire suppression system over all cooking appliances (NFPA 96 compliant), a Class K portable extinguisher, and propane tanks secured and ventilated (100-lb max on most trucks).
- Commercial-grade equipment + plumbing
Residential appliances are prohibited. Inspectors check a dedicated handwashing sink, a 3-compartment sink, temperature control, and adequate water-system capacity.
- Full document set at inspection
Bring the commissary agreement, food handler certs, food manager cert, and vehicle registration — even if not explicitly requested. Missing documents are a top cause of re-inspection delays.
- Texas business registration, sales tax, insurance
Entity + EIN, Texas sales tax permit, and general liability insurance.
Realistic timeline
| Phase | Duration | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Confirm which system applies | Before anything | New city plan-review intake closed May 15, 2026. If you're not already in the city pipeline, you're applying under the statewide DSHS permit (July 1, 2026). Confirm before spending money. Stall: Assuming the city still takes new applications — it stopped May 15, 2026. |
| Business + commissary setup | Week 1–4 | Entity, EIN, Texas sales tax, and a signed Central Preparation Facility agreement. Stall: Commissary waitlists; not budgeting the $150–$800/mo fee. |
| Build to code + fire prep | Week 2–6 | Commercial equipment, fire suppression, LP-gas system; get the Houston Fire Code Certificate of Compliance. Stall: Buying the truck before permitting — it may not meet code and need costly modifications. |
| Inspection + permit | Week 4–8 | Schedule early — COHD inspection slots fill 2–3 weeks out, especially in spring. Pass to get the medallion. Stall: Waiting for equipment to be 'perfect' before booking the inspection slot. |
Common rejection / stall reasons
- Not realizing the city stopped taking applications
Houston Health Department closed new MFU plan-review intake on May 15, 2026; permitting moves to Texas DSHS July 1, 2026.
- No signed Central Preparation Facility agreement
Houston won't approve the MHFD application without a verified commissary; daily CPF check-in is required.
- Residential appliances or undersized plumbing
All equipment must be commercial-grade; handwashing sink, 3-comp sink, temp control, and water capacity are checked.
- Buying the truck before permitting
A truck that doesn't meet code means expensive rework or denial.
- Operating without a permit
Fines of $500–$2,000, truck impoundment, and permit denial.
Official sources
- Houston Health Department — Mobile Food Units
- Houston Health Department — Food Permits
- Operating a Mobile Food Unit in the City of Houston (guide)
- Harris County Fire Code — Mobile Food Preparation Vehicles
- Texas DSHS — Mobile Food Vendors
- Texas DSHS — Retail Food Establishments
- Texas DSHS — HB 2844 overview (official slide deck, PDF)
- Houston Fire Department — Information for Mobile Food Units
- Texas Tribune — HB 2844 statewide permit launch
Contacts
- Texas DSHS licensing
- (512) 406-2644 — Mobile Food Vendor licensing
- Houston Fire Marshal's Office
- 1002 Washington Avenue — LP-Gas permit
- Houston Health Department
- Bureau of Consumer Health Services
- Harris County food portal
- fsp.hcphtx.org
FAQ
- Can I still get a City of Houston food truck permit?
- Not as a new applicant. The Houston Health Department stopped accepting Mobile Food Unit plan-review applications on May 15, 2026. City medallions are no longer valid after June 2026. Beginning July 1, 2026, permitting moves to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) under HB 2844.
- What did the legacy Houston permit cost?
- A Mobile Food Unit Medallion was $708/year, plus a $225.14 annual Houston Fire Code Certificate of Compliance for LP-gas (open-flame) cooking, plus commissary rent of $150–$800/month.
- Do I need a commissary in Houston?
- Almost certainly yes, and this is widely misreported. HB 2844 did not remove the commissary requirement. Under 25 TAC §226.6(c) a mobile food vendor must still operate from a Central Preparation Facility unless it can demonstrate it qualifies for an exemption — and the rule places the burden of proof on the vendor, not the state. Plan on a signed CPF agreement for prep, storage, cleaning and wastewater disposal. Houston CPFs run $150–$800/month.
- How much does a Houston food truck permit cost in 2026?
- A Type III cooking truck — the default for anything with a grill or fryer — pays $876 to DSHS plus a $500 pre-licensing inspection fee, so $1,376 at submission. Type II is $618 plus a $400 inspection ($1,018), and Type I is $309 with no inspection fee. Add the $225.14 Houston Fire Code LP-Gas certificate if you cook with propane, natural gas or solid fuel. That is roughly $1,601 for a typical cooking truck before commissary rent and insurance.
- What does the Texas statewide licence involve?
- HB 2844 created a single DSHS Mobile Food Vendor licence (effective July 1, 2026) that replaced city permits statewide, under new Health and Safety Code Chapter 437B. It has three risk tiers, authorises DSHS to run pre-licensing and randomised inspections, and creates a public database of trucks and inspection results. Local ordinances still apply where they do not conflict with Chapter 437B (25 TAC §226.1(c)(2)) — which is why Houston fire and zoning are still live.
- Do I have to publish where my truck will be?
- Yes — this is new and easy to miss. 25 TAC §226.8(e) requires a mobile food vendor to give notification of its planned operating location, either on social media, on the operator's own website, or directly to DSHS. It supports the state's randomised inspection regime.
Now fill the actual Houston application
You know what Houston requires. The form itself is where applications stall — a wrong licence type, an undated commissary letter, a blank box that looks optional. Our walkthrough goes field by field.
Walk through the Houston form →