Odessa, TX Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Sidewalk & Mobile Vending (2026)
Key Facts
- Annual permit fee
- $300 (may be prorated)
- Single event permit
- $50 per event
- First permit from
- Ector County health department
- City inspection by
- Fire marshal, before permit issues
- Permit expires
- December 31 each year
Summary
Odessa requires every mobile food vendor to first hold an Ector County health department permit, pass a fire marshal inspection, and pay the city's $300 annual permit fee (or $50 per single event) before serving food.
(a) Permits. The following regulations shall apply to mobile food vendors: (1) A mobile food vendor shall first obtain a permit from the Ector County health department and agree to comply with all state and federal health and food service regulations as required by and enforced by the Ector County health department. (2) A mobile food unit shall complete and pass an inspection by the fire marshal prior to the issuance of a permit.... (4) Fees. (A) Annual permit: $300.00 (may be prorated). (B) Single event permit: $50.00 per event.
Full Breakdown
Section 6-6-6 stacks city rules on top of state food-safety law. A vendor must first obtain an Ector County health department permit, then pass a fire marshal inspection before the city issues its permit, which expires every December 31. Annual permits cost $300 (may be prorated) and single-event permits $50. Trucks must return to a home location when idle, cap outside seating at eight persons, and cannot sit at one spot beyond 24 hours except at city-sponsored events or a defined outdoor market. Denials and revocations are appealable to the city manager within 10 days. Note: statewide mobile food unit licensing moved to Texas DSHS on July 1, 2026 under HB 2844 (Health & Safety Code Ch. 437B), separate from this local permit.
Violations & Fines
Operating a mobile food unit contrary to section 6-6-6 is an offense; each separate violation, and each day a violation continues, is a separate offense that may be punished separately, and the city may revoke the permit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a city permit if I already have my county health permit?
How long can a food truck stay in one spot?
What are the legal operating hours?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Odessa
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