What a food truck permit costs in Texas

The figures below come from Texas's agency pages, each with the date it was read. Government fees only: commissary rent, insurance and the truck are private costs, and the profit calculator is where those go.

The main license

$309 to $1,376 at application, by unit type (Type I to III)

DSHS mobile food vendor license (one statewide license since July 1, 2026)

Application plus pre-licensing inspection, both due at submission; the license expires one year after the passed inspection. Cities keep fire, zoning and vending-site rules.

Issued by Texas Department of State Health Services Read on the agency page Sep 14, 2026

Every step, with the fee where it is published

In filing order. A step without a published fee links the agency to ask. County and city rows are for Travis County and Austin. Other Texas counties and cities have their own business tax, fire, and zoning steps; the state and federal rows apply everywhere.

1
Form your entity and get your EINFederal
the IRS
No fee. The EIN itself is free. An LLC filing with the Texas Secretary of State is separate.
Jul 14, 2026
2
Get your Texas Sales and Use Tax PermitState
the Texas licensing agency
No fee
Jul 14, 2026
3
Pick your DSHS license tier (this decides your budget)State
the Texas licensing agency
Type I $309 flat (no pre-licensing or routine inspection fees). Type II $618 plus a $400 pre-licensing inspection. Type III $876 plus a $500 pre-licensing inspection. Application and pre-licensing fees are due together at submission.
Jul 14, 2026
4
Sign your central preparation facility (commissary) agreementState
the Texas licensing agency
Private cost, typically monthly. Austin commissaries commonly run several hundred dollars per month; get quotes from at least two. Ask DSHS about a variance before paying for a commissary you may not need.
Jul 14, 2026
5
Apply for the DSHS statewide mobile food vendor licenseState
the Texas licensing agency
Type III totals $1,376 at application ($876 application plus $500 pre-licensing inspection). Routine inspections later: $400 for Type II, $500 for Type III, none for Type I.
Jul 14, 2026
6
Book the right fire inspection for where you parkCity
the City of Austin
$222. AFD mobile food vending inspection, inside Austin. Travis County Fire Marshal fees are separate; verify for county locations.
Jul 14, 2026
7
Get your Restroom Facility Agreement for Austin locationsCity
the City of Austin
No fee. No fee; it is paperwork with a nearby business.
Jul 14, 2026
8
Certify your food manager and handlersState
the Texas licensing agency
Private cost or no fee
9
Get insured and save your Certificate of InsurancePrivate
the provider
Private cost or no fee
10
Check county and city business registrations for your spotsCounty
Travis County
Private cost or no fee
11
Pass inspection, then book your first three gigsPrivate
the provider
Private cost or no fee

Dated fee ledger

Line items from the Texas guide, each with its agency, renewal term and check date.

Item	Fee	Renewal	Checked
Employer Identification Number (EIN) IRS	$0 Free online. The IRS page warns against sites that charge for one.	None	Sep 8, 2026
Texas Sales and Use Tax Permit Texas Comptroller	$0 No fee for the permit; the Comptroller may require a security bond.	None	Nov 3, 2026
DSHS mobile food vendor license, Type I (prepackaged only): application Texas DSHS	$309 No pre-licensing inspection fee for Type I.	One year from the passed pre-licensing inspection; renew before expiry without a new pre-licensing inspection unless the type or vehicle changes; $100 late fee after expiry	Nov 3, 2026
DSHS mobile food vendor license, Type II (limited prep): application Texas DSHS	$618 Due at submission together with the $400 pre-licensing inspection ($1,018 up front).	One year from the passed pre-licensing inspection; renew before expiry without a new pre-licensing inspection unless the type or vehicle changes; $100 late fee after expiry	Nov 3, 2026
DSHS pre-licensing inspection, Type II Texas DSHS	$400	One-time, at application	Nov 3, 2026
DSHS mobile food vendor license, Type III (full cooking): application Texas DSHS	$876 Due at submission together with the $500 pre-licensing inspection ($1,376 up front). Most cooking trucks are Type III.	One year from the passed pre-licensing inspection; renew before expiry without a new pre-licensing inspection unless the type or vehicle changes; $100 late fee after expiry	Nov 3, 2026
DSHS pre-licensing inspection, Type III Texas DSHS	$500	One-time, at application	Nov 3, 2026
DSHS routine inspection, Type II Texas DSHS	$400 None for Type I.	Per routine inspection	Nov 3, 2026
DSHS routine inspection, Type III Texas DSHS	$500	Per routine inspection	Nov 3, 2026
DSHS complaint or compliance inspection Texas DSHS	Set locally $300 Type I, $400 Type II, $500 Type III, charged only when one is triggered.	Per inspection	Nov 3, 2026
Certified food manager exam Texas DSHS (accredited exam providers)	Set locally DSHS stopped administering the exam in 2010 and does not set a price; the accredited provider does.	Per the certificate's printed expiration	Nov 3, 2026
Food handler card (each employee) Texas DSHS (accredited training programs)	Set locally Course price is set by the accredited program, not DSHS.	Two years from issue when no expiration is printed (25 TAC 229.178)	Nov 3, 2026
Commissary / central preparation facility Private (commissary operator)	Set locally Private monthly cost; quote at least two. Ask DSHS about a variance before paying for a facility you may not need.	Monthly	Jul 14, 2026
General liability + commercial auto insurance Private (insurer)	Set locally Quoted per truck; organizers and commissaries will ask for the certificate of insurance.	Annual policy	—

Renewal timeline

TX Mobile Food Vendor License (DSHS)
Every year · start paperwork 45 days before · Texas DSHS
AFD fire inspection permit
Every year · start paperwork 30 days before · AFD or Travis County Fire Marshal
General liability insurance (COI)
Every year · start paperwork 21 days before · Your insurer
Food manager certification
Every 2 years · start paperwork 30 days before · Accredited provider
Commissary agreement anniversary
Every year · start paperwork 30 days before · Your commissary

Download the renewal calendar (.ics) Open the printable checklist

What changed in Texas

Jul 1, 2026
One statewide DSHS mobile food license replaced city and county health permits: Type I $309, Type II $618, Type III $876 with Texas Online fees, plus the $400 or $500 pre-licensing inspection. Existing local permits ran until their own expiry. Source
May 19, 2026
25 TAC Chapter 226 took effect: a central preparation facility (commissary) is required unless the truck passes the self-sufficiency exemption checklist at inspection; renewals carry a $100 late fee after expiry. Source

Read the full picture

Texas food truck permit guideAgencies, fees, inspections, city rules and the pitfalls, with sources.Austin permitsCity layer on top of the state: zoning, fire, local business tax.Dallas permitsCity layer on top of the state: zoning, fire, local business tax.Houston permitsCity layer on top of the state: zoning, fire, local business tax.San Antonio permitsCity layer on top of the state: zoning, fire, local business tax.

Compare every state on the permit hub or take the CSV.