6 permits · verified 2026-08-25
What permits do you need to open a food truck in The Colony?
In short
A food truck in The Colony, TX has 2 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 4 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. Texas Secretary of State charges $300 one-time filing for the certificate of formation. 3 of the 6 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-08-25 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.
Permits particular to a food truck in The Colony
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temporary and Seasonal Food Permitonly if it applies to you | City of The Colony Health Division | $52–$200 per event or per season | 14 days or less, or 6 months for the seasonal permit | 2026-08-25 |
| Special Event Permitonly if it applies to you | City of The Colony Building Inspections | $50–$250 per event, by expected attendance | per event | 2026-08-25 |
| Mobile Food Vendor Permit (State) | Texas Department of State Health Services | $309–$876 application fee, by food-handling type | one year from the pre-licensing inspection | 2026-08-20 |
Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.
TX registrations that apply to every type of business
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Formationonly if it applies to you | Texas Secretary of State | $300 one-time filing | no expiry | 2026-08-20 |
| Assumed Name Certificate (DBA)only if it applies to you | Texas Secretary of State | $25 one-time filing | up to ten years, renewable | 2026-08-21 |
| Texas Sales and Use Tax Permit | Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts | No fee — there is no fee for this permit | no expiry while actively engaged in business | 2026-08-21 |
Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.
How much does it actually cost to permit a food truck in The Colony?
There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 6 records listed for a food truck in The Colony, TX, 2 apply to every business of this type and 4 are conditional. Adding every fee on the page together would overstate what most operators pay, because it would include permits they never need.
Of the 2 that always apply, 1 carry a flat fee, coming to $0.00. That is a floor, not a total. 3 of the 6 are charged as a range or a formula set by the issuing agency, and 0 have no fee published at all. The ones particular to this business that vary:
Temporary and Seasonal Food Permit: $52–$200 per event or per season
Special Event Permit: $50–$250 per event, by expected attendance
Mobile Food Vendor Permit (State): $309–$876 application fee, by food-handling type
Which offices issue these permits in The Colony?
Permits for a food truck in The Colony, TX come from 5 separate offices: City of The Colony Health Division, City of The Colony Building Inspections, Texas Secretary of State, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, Texas Department of State Health Services. No single office issues them all, which is why an opening means filing in several places rather than one.
- City of The Colony Health DivisionIssues 1 permit on this page: Temporary and Seasonal Food Permit6800 Main Street, The Colony, TX 75056www.thecolonytx.gov
- City of The Colony Building InspectionsIssues 1 permit on this page: Special Event Permit6800 Main Street, The Colony, TX 75056 · (972) 624-3150www.thecolonytx.gov/283/Building-InspectionsPermits
- Texas Secretary of StateIssues 2 permits on this page: Certificate of Formation, Assumed Name Certificate (DBA)www.sos.state.tx.us
- Texas Comptroller of Public AccountsIssues 1 permit on this page: Texas Sales and Use Tax Permitcomptroller.texas.gov/taxes/permit
- Texas Department of State Health ServicesIssues 1 permit on this page: Mobile Food Vendor Permit (State)www.dshs.texas.gov
What does a food truck need in The Colony that other businesses do not?
1 of the 3 permits particular to a food truck here applies to no other business type we cover in The Colony: Mobile Food Vendor Permit (State).
Temporary and Seasonal Food Permit
$52 per event per vendor for 14 days or less — charged per vendor, so a three-stall operation at one event pays $156 rather than $52. A seasonal permit covering six months is $200, which at four or more events is clearly the cheaper route.
Special Event Permit
Banded on how many people you expect: $50 up to 249, $150 from 250 to 1,999 and $250 at 2,000 or more. An organisation event sign is $15 each and a tent, bounce house or climbing wall $50 each — charged per item, so a family event with a bounce house and a climbing wall pays $100 on top of the event permit itself.
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.
The 3 state-level registrations apply to every type of business across TX and are covered on the TX state page.
How does a food truck compare with other businesses in The Colony?
The closest match is a coffee shop, which shares 2 of these permits. A food truck also needs Mobile Food Vendor Permit (State). A coffee shop needs Health Reinspection Fee, Health Plan Review, Vent Hood Permit and Food Establishment Health Permit, which a food truck does not.
| Business | Its own permits | Shared with a food truck | Only a food truck needs | Only it needs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee shops | 6 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Restaurants | 8 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| Retail stores | 8 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| Fitness studios | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Auto repair shops | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Childcare centres | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Contractors and trades | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| Salons and barbers | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| Veterinary clinics | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
Sources
Every figure for the permits explained on this page was read from one of these government pages on the date shown. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the The Colony permits page and the TX state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.
- City of The Colony Health Fee Schedule, effective 1 October 2025 to 30 September 2026 (filed with Texas DSHS 13 November 2025)City of The Colony, filed with Texas Department of State Health Services · primary source · retrieved 2026-08-25
- City of The Colony Master Fee Schedule, 1 October 2025 to 30 September 2026City of The Colony · primary source · retrieved 2026-08-25
- Mobile Food Vendors - Texas DSHSTexas Department of State Health Services · primary source · retrieved 2026-08-22
Related
Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.