Austin Public Health

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Mobile Food Vendors

This program ensures proper food safety at all mobile food establishments, such as food trailers, motor vehicles, pushcarts, and kiosks. Please review the information below to determine the permit requirements that apply to your business.

Mobile Food Vendor Town Hall Meeting

Austin Public Health – Environmental Health Services Division invites you to a Mobile Food Vendor Townhall Meeting to discuss the changes coming to mobile food vending in Texas beginning July 1, 2026.

📅 Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2026
⏰ Time: 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM
📍 Location: Austin Public Health Office, 1520 Rutherford Ln, Austin, TX 78754, Building One – First Floor Training Room 1‑118 A‑C

For questions about mobile food vendor applications, please contact our Customer Service team at 512‑978‑0300 and select Option 5.

Why should you attend?
  • Learn how to obtain a permit from the state
  • Understand how these changes impact your business and compliance requirements
  • Talk with City of Austin and Travis County staff, have your questions answered, and provide your feedback.  Live Spanish translation provided.
  • Get ready for smoother operation across city and state lines under a unified system
What can you learn?
  • Overview of HB 2844: Establishes a new statewide licensing and inspection system for mobile food vendors under Texas Health & Safety Code, Chapter 437B
    • Licensing and enforcement provisions take effect July 1, 2026.
  • Key provisions including three-tier risk classification of mobile food vendors, standardized state-issued license, and state-level inspections by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS)
  • How the law:
    • Preempts local regulations, centralizing oversight at the state level
    • Introduces three licensing tiers (Type I, II, III) based on food preparation risk, each with associated fees
    • Designing a statewide database for vendor itineraries, inspections, public complaints, and more
    • Creates a framework for collaborative agreements with local jurisdictions for inspection reimbursement

Mobile Food Vendor Permitting

How to Apply

For questions about mobile food vendor applications, please contact our Customer Service team at 512‑978‑0300 and select Option 5.

Permit Fees

To view the full fee schedule for all permits, visit Permit Fee Schedule | Austin Public Health | AustinTexas.gov.

Permit Fees for mobile food vendors in the City of Austin and Inter-Local Municipalities:

Permit Fee TypePermitting Fees
Mobile Food Vendor Restricted or Unrestricted Permit/Unit$309
Mobile Food Vendor Re-Inspection$134
Mobile Food Vendor On-site Inspection Fee$740
Mobile Food Vendor On-Site Re-inspection$230
Variance Request/HACCP Review$337

Austin Fire Department Fees for mobile food vendors in the City of Austin and Inter-Local Municipalities:

Permit Fee TypePermitting Fees
Mobile Food Vendor AFD Fire Inspection*$222
Mobile Food Vendor AFD On-site Inspection*$592
Mobile Food Vendor AFD Fire Subsequent Inspection Fee*$296

*Fees are assessed by City of Austin Fire Department.

Permit Fees for mobile food vendors in Unincorporated Travis County:

Permit Fee TypePermitting Fees
Restricted or unrestricted Permit/Unit$258
Mobile Vendor Travis County Fire Inspection$266
Mobile Vendor Travis County Fire Re-inspection*$266

*First Travis County re-inspection at no cost.

Central Preparation Facility Contract and Certification, and Restroom Facility Agreement

These documents completed by the owner or responsible party on file of the Central Preparation Facility (CPF).

All City of Austin Mobile Food Vendors are required to submit and maintain a current Restroom Facility Agreement for each location where the mobile unit will operate for longer than two (2) hours.

Variance Request / HACCP Review

Use this application to request a variance, allowing your establishment to deviate from the approved standards, and/or submit a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan showing how you will mitigate risks to food safety.

Resources for Mobile Food Vendors

For more information on how to setup and operate a mobile food business, click the drop-down menus below.

Guides
Laws and Policies

Contact Information

How can you get in touch with us?  Fill out the contact us form.  Reach us via phone, email, by mail or in-person at the address below.  View a map of our location.

  • Phone: (512) 978-0300 and select option 5.
  • Email: ehsd.service@austintexas.gov
  • Mailing Address: Environmental Health Services, PO Box 142529, Austin, TX 78767
  • Physical Address: Environmental Health Services, 1520 Rutherford Lane, Building One
  • Lobby Hours: 7:45am - 3:30pm | Office Hours: 7:45am - 4:45pm

Have Feedback?

To help us better serve our customers, please provide feedback through the online survey below. To address a concern or request a second opinion regarding an inspection result or complaint, contact us at 512-978-0300 between 7:45 am to 4:45 pm Monday - Friday.

--> Feedback Survey: Austin Public Health Environmental Health Services

To return to our Environmental Health Services Division page, visit Environmental Health Services | Austin Public Health | AustinTexas.gov.