Your first festival is the wrong place to find out a permit is missing. Get the paperwork right before you load the truck.
One state license for the vehicle
Since July 1, 2026, Texas licenses mobile food vendors once, statewide. House Bill 2844, signed in June 2025, moved that license from each city's health department to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).
The license is per vehicle. Two trailers means two licenses. Texas cities honor it and no longer issue their own mobile vendor health permits.
The fee depends on what you do on the unit. DSHS sorts vendors into three types, from prepackaged food (Type I) to cooking and serving from the vehicle (Type III). First-year fees run $309 to $1,376 per unit.
What the state license does not cover
The statewide license replaces the city health permit. It does not replace the rest.
- A fire permit in every jurisdiction you operate in.
- Parking, zoning and event permits where the city or the event requires them.
- Food handler cards for your crew and a certified food manager.
- Liability insurance. Most events want a certificate before they assign your spot.
- A sales and use tax permit.
Ask the event early
Every festival keeps its own vendor packet: insurance minimums, extinguisher and hood inspection dates, setup rules. Ask for it when you apply, not the week of the event.
Give yourself weeks
License applications, inspections and insurance certificates take time. Start well ahead of your first event, and keep every document and expiration date in one place.
Read the TXFVA Permit Guide for fees by type and how to tell which type you are.