Houston mobile food guide
Last updated: October 9, 2026
Starting a food truck, trailer, pushcart, or other mobile food business in Houston now follows a different permit path than it did at the start of 2026. Texas took over mobile food vendor licensing on July 1, but Houston still handles important local inspection, fire, servicing, waste, and operating-location steps. This guide shows how those layers fit together.
Major 2026 change: Houston’s mobile food medallion is no longer the main license
Beginning July 1, 2026, Texas moved mobile food vendor licensing to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). The Houston Health Department says City of Houston mobile food unit permits and medallions are no longer valid after the transition. A mobile food vendor operating a food vending vehicle now needs the statewide DSHS license.
That does not mean Houston is out of the process. Houston Health continues to conduct inspections on behalf of the state. Houston Fire still applies local food-truck fire requirements. Houston also keeps local rules for approved servicing operations, fats-oils-and-grease disposal, and location documentation. The practical task is to complete the state license path and the Houston-specific local layers that still apply.
Bottom line
For a typical food truck or mobile prepared-food business inside Houston city limits, start with the Texas DSHS mobile food vendor license. Your menu and food-handling process determine whether DSHS classifies the vehicle as Type I, II, or III. New operators generally must complete the required pre-licensing inspection before operating.
Then follow the Houston Health mobile food unit process for the local inspection and Houston documents. If the vehicle uses LP-Gas, follow the Houston Fire Marshal food-truck process. Also confirm the exact operating location, servicing/waste arrangements, Texas sales tax registration, and any entity or employer filings that apply to your business.
Quick start: do these checks in this order
- Confirm Houston jurisdiction. Use the Houston Map Viewer; a Houston mailing address does not always mean the site is inside city limits.
- Define the operation. A qualifying truck, trailer, roadside-vendor vehicle, or pushcart can be an FVV. A stand or booth is a different category.
- Classify the menu. DSHS uses Type I, II, and III categories based on food handling, not the vehicle name.
- Apply through DSHS. Use the current DSHS mobile food vendor page.
- Complete the Houston inspection. Houston Health conducts inspections on behalf of the state and lists the documents to bring.
- Set up servicing and site paperwork. Houston has local rules for servicing operations, FOG disposal, restroom letters, and property/location documents.
- Clear the fire layer. LP-Gas has a specific HFD permit path; other fuel/equipment setups must meet applicable fire requirements.
- Finish tax and business setup. Handle Texas sales tax and any entity, assumed-name, or employer steps that apply.
Houston mobile food decision table
| Decision | Government layer | When it applies | Where to act |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile food vendor license | Texas DSHS | Operating an FVV as a mobile food vendor in Texas | DSHS Mobile Food Vendors |
| Pre-licensing/local inspection | State license; Houston conducts local inspection | New licensing and later inspection activity as assigned | Houston Health mobile food units |
| Fire requirements | City of Houston | Food trucks operating inside city limits; LP-Gas has a specific permit path | Houston Fire Marshal food trucks |
| Servicing-area / liquid-waste and potable-water operations | City of Houston | When your operation uses servicing functions in Houston | COH approved servicing areas |
| Temporary food booth or stand | Houston Health | When the operation is a temporary food establishment rather than an FVV | Houston temporary food permits |
| Sales tax permit | Texas Comptroller | When selling taxable prepared food or other taxable items | Texas sales tax permit |
Who controls what in Houston?
DSHS now issues the mobile food vendor license. Houston cannot simply keep the old separate health-license system, but Texas did not erase every local rule. Houston Health still inspects locally under the state system. Houston Fire controls local fire requirements inside city limits. Houston also keeps non-conflicting rules affecting servicing, waste, property permission, parking, right-of-way, traffic, and operating locations.
Houston does not have traditional zoning
Houston says it has no zoning, but that does not make every site legal for vending. Development, parking, access, right-of-way, fire, health, and other ordinances can still matter. Before committing to a regular site, confirm city limits in the Houston Map Viewer and verify any site-specific permission that your setup needs. The DSHS license is not permission to occupy a particular spot.
The Texas DSHS mobile food vendor license
Texas now uses mobile food vendor (MFV) and food vending vehicle (FVV); DSHS says these terms replace the older “mobile food unit” wording. Houston still uses “mobile food unit” on some pages, so you may see both terms.
An FVV can include a self-enclosed truck or trailer, a qualifying roadside-vendor vehicle, or a pushcart designed to be readily movable. DSHS expressly says an FVV is not a stand or booth.
Type I, II, and III depend on food handling
| DSHS type | General pattern | DSHS examples |
|---|---|---|
| Type I | No TCS food or otherwise low risk | Prepackaged ice cream; prepackaged non-TCS snacks |
| Type II | Limited handling, certain made-to-order food, or limited preparation/holding | Coffee, snow-cone, hot-dog vendors |
| Type III | Preparing, cooking, holding, and serving; more complex processes | Burger, BBQ, taco trucks |
Classify the real menu and process, not the vehicle label. DSHS says each FVV needs its own current license. After the successful initial inspection, the license expires one year from that inspection date. A brand-new operator without a qualifying existing license cannot operate until the required pre-licensing inspection is completed.
Houston Health still conducts the local inspection
Houston’s licensing role changed, but the department still performs the local inspection on behalf of DSHS. Houston tells operators to apply through DSHS, obtain the state permit/payment documentation, and then follow the Houston scheduling path.
Bring the current Houston documents
Houston Health currently lists physical copies of the MFU plans, vehicle insurance card, menu disclosure form, list-of-location form, restroom letter, property letter, Health 1-8 form, and standard operating procedures form. Its page also says the restroom letter must come from a business within 500 meters of the operating location.
Treat those location documents as part of site selection, not inspection-day paperwork. If you rotate among sites, review the current Houston requirements before assuming one property or restroom letter covers every location.
Servicing areas, wastewater, and FOG
Do not assume every commissary or Central Preparation Facility can service a truck. Houston says that, within city jurisdiction, a servicing area may provide liquid-waste disposal and potable water only when approved and permitted for those operations. The department currently lists 16 approved locations and links the COH approved servicing-area list.
First determine what DSHS requires for your vehicle and menu; then make sure any Houston servicing functions are performed at an authorized location. Houston also says fats, oils, and grease must be collected and disposed of at a City-licensed facility with a valid FOG permit.
Houston Fire requirements for food trucks
The Houston Fire Marshal’s current food-truck page applies to trucks operating inside city limits, including event operations. It separates requirements by fuel and equipment.
If you use propane, butane, or isobutane (LP-Gas), HFD says a Fire Marshal permit is required. A truck operating regularly at a Houston address can use the annual L1 LP-Gas for use on Food Trucks (FMA) path. A truck coming to a Houston event without regularly operating in the city can use the temporary L3 LP-Gas for use on Food Trucks – Temporary (FTP) path.
Use the live HFD food-truck page for current instructions and 2026 inspection documents. HFD directs applicants to the Houston Permit Portal. The DSHS food license does not replace this local fire layer.
Operating locations and temporary events
The DSHS license is valid statewide, but it is not blanket permission to sell on every street, parking lot, or private site. Houston Health currently asks for location and property documents. For public streets, rights-of-way, or unusual sites, verify the location separately. Houston’s street-vendor information covers certain transient vending, but state law preempts conflicting local food licensing, so confirm how that location rule applies to your exact setup.
A food truck is not a temporary food booth
Houston says it can no longer issue a temporary food dealer permit to a mobile food vendor after June 30, 2026. A licensed MFV remains an MFV at an event. A separate stand or booth can instead be a temporary food establishment.
Houston’s temporary food permit page says temporary-establishment applications generally must be submitted at least 14 days before the event. Do not use the booth permit as a shortcut for a truck, trailer, or pushcart that meets the FVV definition.
Texas sales tax, entity, DBA, and employer layers
The DSHS license is not an LLC filing, assumed-name filing, sales tax permit, or employer registration.
Sales tax
Texas generally taxes ready-to-eat prepared food sold by mobile vendors. If your sales are taxable, use the Texas Comptroller sales tax permit process. Product-specific exceptions can exist, so classify what you actually sell.
Entity and other state setup
If you choose a Texas LLC or corporation, note a major portal change: SOSPortal launched September 29, 2026, replacing SOSDirect and SOSUpload for online business filings, orders, and searches. Use the current Texas Secretary of State Business Services page.
Assumed-name filing depends on entity structure and location. Hiring can also trigger Texas employer filings. For those broader layers, use the verified BLG Texas business license guide.
Four Houston examples
Taco truck
DSHS lists taco trucks as Type III examples. A typical operator will need the DSHS license and inspection path, Houston’s current local inspection documents, compliant servicing/waste arrangements as applicable, and HFD requirements for the truck’s fuel and cooking equipment.
Simple coffee truck
DSHS lists coffee trucks as Type II examples, but the real menu controls. Adding substantial food preparation can change the classification.
Prepackaged ice-cream vehicle
DSHS lists qualifying prepackaged ice-cream vendors as Type I examples. The state fee is lower, but local site and applicable fire rules still matter.
Festival booth
A stand or booth that is not an FVV can use the temporary-food-establishment path. A food truck at the same event remains an MFV and does not become a temporary booth simply because it is at a festival.
Verified DSHS mobile food fees
DSHS currently publishes the following amounts due at initial application. These are state MFV fees, not a combined estimate of every possible Houston fire, business, servicing, or location cost.
| MFV type | Application fee | Pre-licensing inspection fee |
|---|---|---|
| Type I | $309 | None listed |
| Type II | $618 | $400 |
| Type III | $876 | $500 |
DSHS says both the application fee and applicable pre-licensing inspection fee are due when the application is submitted. The state also publishes separate routine and complaint/compliance inspection fees that can apply later. Check the live DSHS fee schedule before paying because fees can change.
Do not add a remembered old Houston medallion fee to these numbers. The local Houston MFU medallion was part of the pre-July 2026 system. Fire permits, servicing arrangements, vehicle work, commissary/CPF arrangements, and private-site costs are separate and depend on your setup.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Applying for the old Houston medallion as though it were still the operating license. The DSHS statewide MFV license replaced that local licensing path on July 1, 2026.
- Using a temporary event permit for a food truck. A booth and an FVV are different categories. Houston says it stopped issuing temporary food dealer permits to mobile food vendors after June 30.
- Picking Type I, II, or III from the vehicle name. DSHS classification depends on food and preparation processes.
- Assuming the statewide license gives permission to park and sell anywhere. Local fire, property, parking, right-of-way, traffic, and other non-conflicting location rules remain relevant.
- Using any commissary for water or liquid-waste servicing. Houston warns that not every CPF is an approved servicing area.
- Ignoring the restroom and property letters. Houston’s current inspection page specifically lists them, and the restroom letter must be from a business within 500 meters of the operating location.
- Buying propane equipment before checking HFD. LP-Gas food trucks have a specific Houston Fire Marshal permit path.
- Using an old SOSDirect link to form an entity. SOSPortal replaced SOSDirect and SOSUpload on September 29, 2026.
Compact Houston mobile food compliance checklist
- Confirm every regular operating site is inside or outside Houston city limits.
- Confirm that the operation is an FVV, not a temporary stand or booth.
- Write the complete menu and food-preparation process before selecting an MFV type.
- Apply for the correct Type I, II, or III DSHS MFV license.
- Do not begin as a brand-new vendor until the state-required pre-licensing inspection path allows operation.
- Follow Houston Health’s current inspection scheduling instructions.
- Prepare the current Houston inspection documents, including location, restroom, property, menu, plans, insurance, and SOP materials.
- Confirm whether you need a CPF and/or Houston-approved servicing-area functions for your operation.
- Set up compliant wastewater and FOG handling.
- Use the HFD food-truck process for applicable fire inspection and permits, especially LP-Gas.
- Get the Texas sales tax permit if your sales are taxable.
- Complete any entity, assumed-name, and employer filings that fit your business.
- Recheck the live DSHS, Houston Health, and HFD pages before paying fees or scheduling opening day.
What to ask DSHS, Houston Health, and Houston Fire
Use your real menu, equipment, and operating locations when you ask. A vague “I have a food truck” question can produce a less useful answer.
DSHS classification script
“I am opening a mobile food business using a [truck/trailer/pushcart]. My menu is [menu]. On the vehicle I will [cook/reheat/cold-hold/hot-hold/serve prepackaged food]. Which MFV type applies, and what must be completed before I may legally begin operating?”
Houston Health inspection script
“I have submitted my DSHS mobile food vendor application for this vehicle. I plan to operate at [address or locations] in Houston. Which documents do you need for the local inspection, and do my servicing, restroom, property-letter, wastewater, or FOG arrangements need any Houston-specific approval before inspection?”
Houston Fire script
“My food truck uses [propane/butane/isobutane/electricity/firewood/charcoal] and will operate [regularly at this Houston address / temporarily at this event]. Which current HFD food-truck inspection and permit path applies to this fuel and operating pattern?”
What if the normal path does not fit?
- Booth only: start with temporary-food-establishment rules, not the MFV license.
- Fixed-kitchen catering with delivery: ask DSHS which category controls; a delivery vehicle is not automatically an FVV.
- Site outside Houston: the DSHS license remains relevant, but Houston-specific local rules may not.
- Public street/right-of-way: verify location permission separately; the food license does not authorize public-property use.
- Commissary says it services trucks: verify it is authorized for the specific water/waste functions you need.
Official resources
- Texas DSHS — Mobile Food Vendors — current statewide licensing, definitions, types, transition rules, and fees.
- Houston Health Department — Mobile Food Units — Houston inspection path, servicing, waste, location documents, and fire links.
- Houston Fire Marshal — Food Trucks — current Houston fire requirements and LP-Gas permit categories.
- Houston Health — Temporary Food Permits — separate booth/temporary-establishment path and event deadlines.
- Houston Planning and Development — Houston Map Viewer and city-limit information.
- Houston Development Regulations — official explanation that Houston does not have zoning and overview of development controls.
- Texas Comptroller — Sales Tax Permit — state tax registration path.
- Texas Secretary of State — Business Services — current SOSPortal business-filing route.
About BusinessLicenseGuide.com
BusinessLicenseGuide.com is an independent plain-English information site. We are not the City of Houston, Texas DSHS, a law firm, or a filing service. Our job is to separate the government layers, point you to official action pages, and help you understand what to verify before you spend money.
Related business license guides
Start with the closest next-step guides, then explore other BLG location and licensing resources.
Best next guides
Explore more BLG guides
Houston mobile food FAQ
Do I still need a City of Houston mobile food medallion?
No. Beginning July 1, 2026, Texas DSHS took over mobile food vendor licensing, and Houston says its old MFU permits and medallions are no longer valid. Houston still conducts inspections on behalf of the state and keeps separate local fire, servicing, waste, and operating-location requirements.
Which DSHS mobile food type applies to my Houston truck?
It depends on your menu and food-handling process. DSHS uses Type I for low-risk operations such as qualifying prepackaged non-TCS foods, Type II for limited handling or certain made-to-order food, and Type III for more complex cooking, holding, cooling, or reheating. Give DSHS your actual menu and process before relying on an example.
Can I use a Houston temporary food permit for my food truck at a festival?
No, not as a substitute for the mobile food vendor license. Houston says temporary food dealer permits can no longer be issued to mobile food vendors after June 30, 2026. A stand or booth that is a temporary food establishment follows a different temporary-permit path.
Does the statewide DSHS license let me sell anywhere in Houston?
No. The state license replaces separate local food-vendor licensing, but it does not erase non-conflicting local fire, property, parking, right-of-way, traffic, servicing, waste, and operating-location rules. Confirm each site before you begin selling there.
Does my Houston food truck need a fire permit?
Houston Fire applies food-truck fire requirements inside city limits. If you use propane, butane, or isobutane, HFD says a Fire Marshal permit is required. The exact annual or temporary permit path depends on whether you regularly operate in Houston or are coming for an event.
Can any commissary service my Houston food truck?
No. Houston warns that not every Central Preparation Facility is authorized to provide servicing operations. When your operation needs potable-water or liquid-waste servicing in Houston, use a location approved and permitted for those functions and confirm what DSHS requires for your specific vehicle and menu.
Update note
Last updated: October 9, 2026
Next review: January 7, 2027
This guide was researched against the post-July 1 Texas DSHS mobile food licensing system and current Houston Health, Houston Fire, servicing-area, temporary-event, location, tax, and business-filing paths. It also reflects the September 29, 2026 launch of Texas SOSPortal.
Disclaimer
This guide is for general information only. Mobile food, fire, tax, location, and business rules can change and can depend on your menu, vehicle, equipment, fuel, and operating site. Confirm the current requirement with the official agency before you pay a fee, buy or retrofit a vehicle, sign a site agreement, or begin operating.