Texas food truck operators now need a statewide license from the Texas Department of State Health Services instead of separate licenses from each local health department where they operate.<\/p>\n
The change took effect July 1 under House Bill 2844 and creates a new statewide licensing system for mobile food vehicles.<\/p>\n
According to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, mobile food vehicles will be assigned a license type based on their food preparation activities.<\/p>\n
How to get a Texas food truck license<\/p>\n
According to DSHS<\/a>, the application is available through its Online Licensing Services.<\/a><\/p>\n After the agency processes the application, the operator of the food truck will be contacted to schedule a pre-licensing inspection.<\/p>\n There are two categories for applicants seeking initial licensing and inspection.<\/p>\n Category 1<\/p>\n If you have an existing mobile food unit or mobile food vendor license from a local health department in Texas, you can keep operating if you:<\/p>\n Provide proof of that license when you apply through DSHS<\/p>\n Submit the application and pay the fees<\/p>\n Print and keep the application summary on your food vending vehicle at all times <\/p>\n Category 2 \u00a0 <\/p>\n Per DSHS, if you do not have a current license anywhere in\u00a0Texas, you cannot operate until the pre-licensing inspection is completed. The agency will prioritize your application. <\/p>\n Once the pre-licensing inspection is successfully completed, you will be granted a\u00a0DSHS mobile food vehicle license that expires one year from the date of the completed pre-licensing inspection.<\/p>\n What counts as a mobile food vehicle?<\/p>\n According to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, a food vending vehicle is a self-enclosed food service establishment (including catering trucks, trailers, and roadside vendors) or pushcart that operates to store, prepare, display, serve, or sell food as a food service establishment, and is designed to be readily movable.<\/p>\n A food vending vehicle may be self- or otherwise-propelled or vehicle-mounted. A food vending vehicle does not count as a food stand or a booth.<\/p>\n What are the license types?<\/p>\n Here are the license categories for mobile food vehicles:<\/p>\n Type I<\/p>\n For vendors that don’t sell time and temperature control for safety (TCS) foods and are considered low risk.<\/p>\n Examples: Prepackaged ice cream vendors and prepackaged snack vendors<\/p>\n Type II<\/p>\n For vendors that sell prepackaged TCS foods or prepare food to order for immediate consumption. Food preparation may include cold holding, thawing or reheating commercially prepared products.<\/p>\n Examples: Coffee trucks, snow cone vendors, hot dog vendors<\/p>\n Type III<\/p>\n For vendors that prepare, cook, hold and serve food. Food preparation may include cooking, cooling, reheating, hot holding or cold holding.<\/p>\n Examples: Burger trucks, barbecue trucks, taco trucks<\/p>\n