Houston food trucks need a Mobile Food Unit (MFU) permit from the Houston Health Department ($530 annually for full-prep, $266 for prepackaged) and must operate from a Houston-permitted commissary. Houston Code of Ordinances Chapter 20 Article V allows downtown vending but bans operation within 60 feet of any restaurant entrance during their open hours.
Houston food trucks are regulated by the Houston Health Department Bureau of Consumer Health Services under Houston Code of Ordinances Chapter 20 Article V. The annual Mobile Food Unit permit costs $266 for Class 1 prepackaged units and $530 for Class 2/3 full-preparation units. Every MFU must affiliate with a Houston-permitted commissary or central preparation facility — out-of-county commissaries are not accepted — and must return there daily for servicing. The truck must pass an initial vehicle inspection plus annual propane/LPG inspection. Operators must designate a Texas Department of State Health Services Certified Food Manager. Unlike many Texas cities, Houston allows downtown street vending but Chapter 20 prohibits any MFU from operating within 60 feet of the front entrance of an open restaurant. A City of Houston Business Personal Property tax registration and Texas Sales Tax Permit are also required.
Operating an unpermitted MFU is a Class C misdemeanor with fines from $50 to $2,000 per day under Texas Health & Safety Code §437. Operating from an unapproved commissary or out-of-county base voids the permit. Violating the 60-ft restaurant buffer carries fines starting at $250. Failure to maintain the propane inspection or commissary letter results in immediate suspension.
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