Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors in Arlington, TX (2026)
3 verified food trucks & mobile vendors rules for Arlington, Texas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Food Truck Permits
Arlington mobile food establishments can't vend within one block of an elementary, junior high, or middle school, can't stop to sell for more than 30 minutes outside an approved event, and need written Parks Department permission to vend near a park concession stand, per Health Chapter Sec. 4.20. A valid state, county, or local permit must be displayed at all times.
Arlington Mobile Food Truck Operating Rules
Some RestrictionsCode of the City of Arlington, Texas, Health Chapter, Art. IV, Sec. 4.20(A), (C) (Ord. No. 25-063)
A. Any person or firm who operates a mobile food establishment as defined in this Article shall not operate such establishment within one block of any block containing an elementary school, junior high school, or middle school. ... C. A mobile food establishment shall not stop to sell or serve food for a period of time exceeding thirty (30) minutes.
Vending Zones
Arlington confines a stand-alone mobile food establishment to the DT-FBZ-CMU, DT-FBZ-Core, and DT-FBZ-Gateway zoning districts, tied to an underlying restaurant, bar, brewery/winery, or theatre certificate of occupancy. Wherever a truck operates, it must stay one block clear of any elementary, junior high, or middle school, get written Parks Department permission before entering a City park with a concession stand, and cannot stop to vend longer than 30 minutes without qualifying for an exception.
Arlington Mobile Food Truck Vending Zones
Some RestrictionsCode of the City of Arlington, Health and Sanitation Chapter, Art. IV, Sec. 4.20 (Ord. No. 25-063); Arlington Unified Development Code Sec. 3.3.6.N (Ord. No. 26-019)
Section 4.20 Operation of Mobile Food Establishment A. Any person or firm who operates a mobile food establishment as defined in this Article shall not operate such establishment within one block of any block containing an elementary school, junior high school, or middle school. B. No mobile food establishment may enter any City Park containing a concession stand for the purpose of vending wi...
Sidewalk & Mobile Vending
Arlington stopped issuing its own mobile food permits on September 1, 2023. Food trucks now operate under a Tarrant County Public Health Mobile Food Unit annual permit, which requires a permitted, inspected commissary and passing a health inspection before serving the public.
Arlington Food Trucks Need a County Mobile Food Unit Permit
Light RestrictionsTarrant County Public Health, Mobile Food Unit Permit Application — Commissary Certification (Revised 8.30.2025)
Any vendor that applies for a Tarrant County Public Health Mobile Food Unit Permit will be required to use a permitted commissary and must submit this form along with all required paperwork. ... This approval is not to be mistaken for authorization to operate in any one city jurisdiction within Tarrant County. Contact the specific city your business is operating within for any additional requir...
Looking for Tarrant County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Arlington city rules.
Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors in Tarrant County →