Street vending cart rules in Houston, TX — also called pushcart, food cart, or sidewalk vendor regulations — set where mobile vendors can operate and what permits they need.
Houston regulates pushcart vendors and mobile food vehicles under Chapters 20 and 22. Carts must meet Health Department sanitation standards, display the vendor license prominently, and maintain specified clearances from buildings and traffic.
Houston regulates pushcarts and vending stands under Chapter 22 (Street Vendors) and Chapter 20 (Food Establishments). All vending carts used for food must meet Houston Health Department sanitation standards including handwashing facilities, food temperature control, and waste containment. The vendor license must be conspicuously displayed on the cart at all times. Pushcarts must maintain adequate clearance from building entrances (minimum 10 feet from doorways), fire lanes, and ADA-accessible paths. Carts selling pre-packaged foods have slightly less stringent requirements than those preparing food on-site. Ice cream trucks and pushcart vendors have specific licensing categories. All equipment must be stored at a licensed commissary when not in active use. The cart dimensions and weight must allow it to be moved by one person to comply with obstruction regulations.
Operating a non-compliant cart: fine up to $2,000. Health code violations can result in immediate impoundment of equipment. Operating without a visible license: citation and potential confiscation.
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