Killeen, TX Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Sidewalk & Mobile Vending (2026)
Key Facts
- License issuer
- Texas DSHS (state, not city)
- Effective
- July 1, 2026
- Authority
- Health & Safety Code 437B
- Fees
- $250 / $500 / $800 by tier
- Per vehicle
- Separate license each vehicle
Summary
Since July 1, 2026, anyone operating a food truck in Killeen must hold a state mobile food vendor license issued by the Texas Department of State Health Services under Health & Safety Code Chapter 437B. Killeen cannot ban a licensed vendor.
Sec. 437B.051. LICENSE REQUIRED. (a) A person may not operate as a mobile food vendor in this state unless the person holds a mobile food vendor's license issued by the department. A separate license is required for each food vending vehicle a mobile food vendor operates. (b) A local authority may not prohibit the operation in its jurisdiction of a mobile food vendor who holds a mobile food vendor license and complies with all other state and local laws not in conflict with this chapter.
Full Breakdown
Texas House Bill 2844 created Health & Safety Code Chapter 437B, and as of July 1, 2026 the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), not the City of Killeen or the Bell County Public Health District, issues the mobile food vendor license. Every vendor must hold one, and a separate license is required for each vending vehicle operated. Application fees run $250 for Type I (prepackaged), $500 for Type II (limited prep), and $800 for Type III (complex cooking). Killeen may not prohibit a state-licensed vendor who complies with all other state and local laws, and DSHS may impose an administrative penalty for operating without a license.
Violations & Fines
Operating a food truck in Killeen without a DSHS mobile food vendor license violates Chapter 437B and exposes the vendor to an administrative penalty imposed by the department; each vending vehicle requires its own separate license.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the City of Killeen still issue its own food truck permit?
How much does the state mobile food vendor license cost?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Killeen
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Killeen to another location·View the Texas food trucks & mobile vendors overview
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