Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors in Dallas, TX

Every city handles food trucks & mobile vendors a little differently. In Dallas, Texas, there are 3 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Vending Zones

Dallas splits mobile food unit vending into two zones. Inside the Central Business District, a truck needs a CBD concession license plus a state mobile food permit. Outside the CBD, general service mobile food units cannot vend on public property at all, and no unit may vend within 600 feet of a school during school hours.

Key details: CBD requirement: CBD concession license + state mobile food permit. Outside CBD: General service mobile food units barred from public property. School buffer: 600 feet or two city blocks, whichever is greater. Buffer hours: 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on school days. Governing section: Dallas City Code Sec. 50-159.

Vending a mobile food unit outside a permitted zone, without the required CBD concession license, or inside the 600-foot/two-block school buffer during school hours is prosecuted as a street vendor offense under Chapter 50, Article XII. The director of the enforcing city department, or a peace officer, can cite the operator, and a private citizen who witnesses a violation may file a complaint directly with the city attorney's office under Sec. 50-158(c).

Compared to other cities, Dallas takes a harder line on vending zones. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Sidewalk & Mobile Vending

Selling goods or services on public or private property in downtown Dallas requires a Central Business District concession license from the city's Consumer Health Division, with a separate license for each vending site. Public-property sites cost $600 a year; private-property sites cost $150.

Key details: License: CBD concession license required. Public-site fee: $600 per year. Private-site fee: $150 per year. Scope: Central business district only. Agency: Consumer Health Division.

Working as a street vendor in the central business district without a valid CBD concession license, or operating off your designated vending site, is a Class C misdemeanor enforced by Code Compliance and prosecuted in Dallas municipal court.

Food Truck Permits

Dallas requires a Mobile Food Establishment permit from Dallas Code Compliance Consumer Health ($380–$675 annually). Per Dallas City Code §17-7, trucks must operate from a Dallas-permitted commissary, may not vend within 100 feet of a brick-and-mortar restaurant entrance, and need property-owner consent for any private-lot location. A Texas Food Manager certificate is mandatory.

Key details: Dallas Mobile: Dallas Mobile Food Establishment permit: $380 (Class A) – $675 (Class C). Apply 7901: Apply: 7901 Goforth Road, Dallas. Permit Required: Dallas-permitted commissary letter required. Statutory Authority: 100 ft buffer from restaurant entrances (City Code §17-7). Property Owner: Property-owner written consent for private lots.

Operating an unpermitted Mobile Food Establishment in Dallas is a Class C misdemeanor with fines up to $2,000 per day under Texas Health & Safety Code §437.025. Violating the 100-ft buffer or operating without written property-owner consent carries city citations starting at $250. Use of an unapproved commissary results in permit suspension and potential food impoundment.

The rules around food truck permits in Dallas lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

The Bottom Line

Dallas's food trucks & mobile vendors rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Dallas is broadly strict or permissive.

These rules come from Dallas's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.