Houston, TX Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Vending Zones (2026)
Key Facts
- Hours allowed
- 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. only
- Eligible property
- Non-residential property, one location only
- Bond required
- $10,000 surety bond
- Public property
- Banned from sidewalks, streets, rights-of-way
- Fine range
- $250 to $500 per violation
Summary
Houston requires street vendors to hold a location-specific permit valid only on non-residential property, limiting sales to 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. and barring vending from any public sidewalk, street, or right-of-way.
(a)The director shall issue to any street vendor a permit authorizing the street vendor to sell, exhibit for sale, offer for sale or exhibit for the purpose of taking orders for the sale thereof, goods or merchandise in the city after such street vendor has fully complied with all provisions of this article and paid the prescribed fee.(b)Any permit issued hereunder shall be issued to a specific person for a specific location and shall limit the hours of operation from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.
Full Breakdown
Under Code of Ordinances § 22-18, the Director of Administration and Regulatory Affairs issues each street vendor permit to one person for one specific non-residential location, and every permit limits operating hours to 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Vendors need the property owner's notarized consent and a $10,000 surety bond before selling. Section 22-22 separately makes it unlawful to sell or expose goods for sale on any public sidewalk, public street, parking space, right-of-way, or other public property, so curbside or street-corner vending is banned citywide regardless of permit status. Section 22-19 caps a location to three permitted sales events per year and a vendor to ten per year, with no more than two permits in any rolling 30-day period.
Violations & Fines
Operating without a permit, vending outside 8 a.m.-8 p.m., or selling on a public sidewalk, street, or right-of-way is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $250 to $500 per offense under § 22-91.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Houston street vendor set up on a sidewalk or in the street?
What hours can a permitted Houston street vendor operate?
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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Vending Zones in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Harris County handle vending zones.