Food trucks and mobile food vendors operating in Denton must obtain a Mobile Food Vendor Permit from the City of Denton Development Services Department. Operators must also hold a valid Denton County Health Department food handlers permit and pass a health inspection. Permits are required for all food trucks operating on private property, at special events, and on designated public locations. Denton has cultivated a food truck culture particularly around the downtown square and UNT campus area.
Denton requires all mobile food vendors to obtain a Mobile Food Vendor Permit before operating within city limits. The application process requires proof of a valid Texas sales tax permit, a Denton County Health Department food establishment permit or inspection, liability insurance, a commissary agreement with a licensed commercial kitchen for food preparation and cleaning, and a site plan showing the proposed operating location. Food trucks must comply with Dentons zoning regulations -- they are generally permitted in commercial and mixed-use districts but restricted in single-family residential zones. Operating on private property requires written consent from the property owner. Food trucks at special events operate under the event permit and may not need a separate mobile vendor permit if covered by the event organizer. Denton charges an annual permit fee for mobile food vendors. Trucks must maintain at least a three-foot clearance from fire hydrants and building exits, have a visible health inspection grade, and properly dispose of grease and wastewater at a licensed commissary. Contact Development Services at (940) 349-8530 for permit applications.
Operating a food truck without a valid Mobile Food Vendor Permit is a code violation with fines up to $500 per day. Health code violations discovered during inspections can result in immediate suspension of the food handlers permit. Operating in a prohibited zoning district may result in a cease-and-desist order. Grease or wastewater disposal violations carry additional penalties.
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