What permits do you need to open a food truck in Harris County?

Roadside Food Vendor Permit

$141.75 a year for a roadside vendor, where all food sold must be prepared and packaged at a separately permitted food establishment rather than on the vendor's own unit. This is a distinct fee-schedule line from the annual Mobile Food Unit food-safety permit that HB 2844 transferred to Texas DSHS effective July 1, 2026; that transfer is stated only for the 'Mobile Food Unit' category by name, so this Roadside Food Vendor category is published here as a live Harris County requirement pending any contrary guidance from HCPH.

Mobile Food Unit (MFU) Operational Permit — Fire Marshal

Required for every mobile food vendor vehicle or mobile food unit operating within unincorporated Harris County, per the Fire Code's own text, and comes with an operational rule set: 20-foot separation from structures, other vendors and combustibles, a minimum 28-inch egress width, and no LP-gas stored inside the unit. This is a fire/life-safety permit under the Fire Code, entirely separate from HCPH's food-safety permitting, and is unaffected by Texas HB 2844's July 1, 2026 transfer of the annual HCPH Mobile Food Unit food-safety permit to Texas DSHS — this Fire Marshal permit still applies and still comes from Harris County.

Mobile Food Vendor Permit (State)

Since 1 July 2026 one DSHS permit covers every Texas jurisdiction, replacing separate permits from each local health department. Three tiers by food handling: Type I (no time/temperature controlled foods) $309 with no pre-licensing inspection fee; Type II (limited TCS handling) $618 plus a $400 pre-licensing inspection; Type III (full preparation) $876 plus a $500 pre-licensing inspection. The license expires one year from the successfully completed pre-licensing inspection, not from the application date. Temporary food dealer permits could not be issued to mobile vendors in Texas after 30 June 2026.

Shared with other businesses in Harris County

• Farmers' Market Vendor Permit (Category C) — Harris County Public Health, Environmental Public Health Division, Food Safety Program, $100 per year (2025 fee schedule), at least 1 year, per Texas Health and Safety Code §437.0065's statutory minimum for a farmers'-market food permit. Also required for retail stores; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
• Temporary Food Establishment Permit — Harris County Public Health, Environmental Public Health Division, Food Safety Program, $84–$168 per event: $84.00 if applied for on time, $168.00 if applied for late (2025 fee schedule), per event. Also required for restaurants, coffee shops and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.