Houston, TX Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Food Truck Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Requirement
- Medallion required per unit
- Issuing agency
- Houston Health Department
- Term
- Valid one year, renewable
- Transferability
- Non-transferable between owners or units
- Penalty
- $50-$2,000 fine per day
Summary
Houston requires every mobile food unit to carry an individual medallion from the Health Department, issued only after a compliance inspection and renewed annually; operating without one is illegal citywide.
Any person desiring to operate one or more mobile food units in the city other than restricted operations mobile food units shall obtain an individual medallion for each operating mobile food unit from the health officer. Each medallion will be issued unit-by-unit only after an inspection reveals satisfactory compliance with the provisions of section 20-22 of this Code... No person shall operate or cause to be operated any mobile food unit that does not possess a valid medallion issued by the health officer.
Full Breakdown
Under Code of Ordinances § 20-37, anyone operating a mobile food unit in Houston must obtain an individual medallion issued unit-by-unit by the Houston Health Department, granted only after an inspection confirms compliance with the article's food-safety requirements. The medallion must be affixed where patrons can see it, and operating without one is prohibited. Applicants must identify the commissary or fixed establishment supplying their time/temperature-controlled food. Medallions are non-transferable between people or units, cost an annual fee under § 20-38, and expire one year after issuance under § 20-40, requiring renewal.
Violations & Fines
Operating a mobile food unit without a valid medallion is a misdemeanor under § 20-19(c), punishable by a fine of $50 to $2,000, with each day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does each food truck need its own medallion?
Can I transfer my medallion to a new truck?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Houston
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Houston to another location·View the Texas food trucks & mobile vendors overview
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Food Truck Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Harris County handle food truck permits.