San Antonio, TX — Food Truck permit
San Antonio food trucks now license through the statewide Texas DSHS permit under HB 2844 (effective July 1, 2026), replacing the San Antonio Metro Health (SAMHD) Mobile Food Establishment permit. The city keeps the local layers: a San Antonio Fire Department permit (~$300 + 3% surcharge) for gas units, and a commissary.
Texas HB 2844 moved food-truck health permitting to the State of Texas (DSHS) on July 1, 2026, replacing the San Antonio Metro Health (SAMHD) permit. The San Antonio Fire Department still permits gas units and zoning is still local. Confirm the current DSHS process before applying.
DSHS tier ($309–$1,376 up front) plus the ~$300 SAFD fire permit are modest; commissary rent and general-liability insurance dominate year one.
What a San Antonio food truck permit looks like in 2026
For years, a San Antonio food truck got its health permit from the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District (SAMHD) — a tiered Mobile Food Establishment permit ($103 to $309 depending on what you serve). As of July 1, 2026, Texas HB 2844 replaces that local health permit with a single statewide DSHS license. What stays local: the San Antonio Fire Department permit and zoning.
What you actually need
- DSHS Mobile Food Unit license (statewide) — tiered by how much you cook: roughly $309 (Type I, prepackaged), ~$1,018 (Type II, cook-serve), or ~$1,376 (Type III, complex prep) up front, $300–$850 renewal. Replaces the SAMHD permit.
- San Antonio Fire Department permit — about $300 plus a 3% surcharge for units using propane or other gases; fire authority stays local.
- Commissary — SAMHD has always required a written agreement with an approved licensed commissary (shared kitchens, restaurant backspaces, or dedicated facilities); the state framework expects one too.
- Certified Food Manager — at least one, plus food-handler training for staff.
What it actually costs
The permit is the small number; commissary and insurance dominate. Realistic first-year regulatory spend is $3,000–$10,000 depending on your DSHS tier, commissary, and insurance requirements.
How long it actually takes
Plan on 4–8 weeks under the DSHS process plus the SAFD fire inspection for gas units. Health inspections in San Antonio are by appointment (210-207-0135). The state process is new in mid-2026, so timelines are still settling.
Operating across Texas? See the Texas HB 2844 guide and our Austin and Houston guides for 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 SAMHD permit as of July 1, 2026. | 1 year |
San Antonio Fire Department (SAFD) permit | Cooking/gas units: suppression, Class K extinguisher, secured propane. | $300 Approximately $300 plus a 3% surcharge. Required for units using propane or other gases — fire authority stays local. | Annual |
SAMHD Mobile Food Establishment permit (legacy) | Operators permitted by San Antonio Metro Health before the July 1, 2026 transition. | Varies Legacy city-health permit, tiered: $103 (non-PHF prepackaged) / $206 (packaged PHF) / $309/yr (openly handled / hot meals). Replaced by the DSHS license July 1, 2026. | 1 year |
Requirements
- Commissary / Central Preparation Facility agreement
A written agreement with an approved licensed commissary (shared commercial kitchen, restaurant backspace, or dedicated facility) for prep, water, waste, storage, and cleaning. Required before your application is complete.
Cost: $200–$600/month
- Fire suppression + Class K extinguisher
Gas/cooking units need a commercial automatic fire suppression system (NFPA 96), a Class K extinguisher, ventilation, and secured propane — permitted by the San Antonio Fire Department.
- Certified 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 SAFD fire permit/inspection for gas units (health inspection by appointment, 210-207-0135). Stall: Booking inspections late — schedule as soon as the build is final. |
| License issued + operate | Week 4–8 | Keep the DSHS application summary, commissary agreement, fire permit, and manager certs on the truck. |
Common rejection / stall reasons
- Assuming SAMHD still issues the health permit
As of July 1, 2026, the health permit is the statewide DSHS license — not San Antonio Metro Health. 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.
- Skipping the San Antonio Fire Department permit
Fire authority stays local — gas/cooking units still need the SAFD permit (~$300 + 3%) and inspection regardless of the state license.
- No signed commissary agreement
An approved commissary agreement is required before the application is complete.
- 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
- San Antonio Metro Health (SAMHD)
- Mobile Food Vending — inspections by appt: 210-207-0135
- San Antonio Fire Department
- Mobile vending fire permits
- Texas DSHS
- Online Licensing Services — dshs.texas.gov
FAQ
- Who issues San Antonio 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 San Antonio Metro Health (SAMHD) Mobile Food Establishment permit. You still get a San Antonio Fire Department permit for gas units, and zoning is still local.
- How much does a San Antonio food truck permit cost?
- The DSHS license is tiered: roughly $309 (Type I), about $1,018 (Type II), or about $1,376 (Type III) up front, with $300–$850 renewal. Add the SAFD fire permit (~$300 + 3% surcharge) for gas units, commissary rent, and insurance — realistic first-year regulatory spend is $3,000–$10,000.
- Do I need a commissary for a San Antonio food truck?
- Yes. San Antonio has always required a written agreement with an approved licensed commissary — a shared commercial kitchen, restaurant backspace, or dedicated mobile-vendor facility — for prep, water, waste, storage, and cleaning, and the state framework expects one too.
- Does San Antonio still inspect food trucks after HB 2844?
- Yes. HB 2844 moved the health permit to the state, but the San Antonio Fire Department still permits and inspects gas/cooking units (about $300 plus a 3% surcharge), and zoning remains local. Health inspections are by appointment at 210-207-0135.
- What were the old SAMHD permit fees?
- San Antonio Metro Health charged tiered Mobile Food Establishment fees: $103 for non-potentially-hazardous prepackaged food, $206 for packaged potentially hazardous food, and $309/year for openly handled or hot meals. These are replaced by the statewide DSHS license as of July 1, 2026.