Mobile Food Vendors
This program ensures proper food safety at all mobile food establishments, such as food trailers, motor vehicles, pushcarts, and kiosks.
- How to Obtain a Mobile Food Vendor Permit
As part of our commitment to improving service delivery, Environmental Health Services at Austin Public Health is transitioning to a new digital platform. Please review the Mobile Food Vendor: Operational Permit Application (PDF) to better understand the application requirements.
To submit an application, please follow the steps below:
- Visit Login | Austin Public Health | My Health Department.
- Create an account online and log-in using your account information.
- Click Special Permitting Food Applications -> Mobile Food Vendor: Operational Permit Application.
- Click Submit a New Mobile Food Vendor: Operational Permit Application.
Follow the built-in instructions to fill out the application form (*required fields have red asterisk).
Sign the document to acknowledge that the information is true and correct.
Upload any pertinent files.
Save draft (and edit later if needed).
Click Submit.
From the dashboard, click Past Submissions to view and edit the application, attach new files or add messages.
If you have trouble navigating the online portal, please visit our office at 1520 Rutherford Ln, Bldg. 1 Ste 205, Austin, TX 78754. Our staff will help you to submit your application online.
Plan ahead: Do NOT bring in your mobile vending unit without an appointment. You will not be inspected. No exceptions.
- Permit Fees
To view the full fee schedule for all permits, visit Permit Fee Schedule | Austin Public Health | AustinTexas.gov.
Permit Fees for mobile food vendors in the City of Austin and Inter-Local Municipalities:
Permit Fee Type Permitting Fees Mobile Food Vendor Restricted or Unrestricted Permit/Unit $309 Mobile Food Vendor Re-Inspection $134 Mobile Food Vendor On-site Inspection Fee $740 Mobile Food Vendor On-Site Re-inspection $230 Variance Request/HACCP Review $337 Austin Fire Department Fees for mobile food vendors in the City of Austin and Inter-Local Municipalities:
Permit Fee Type Permitting Fees Mobile Food Vendor AFD Fire Inspection* $222 Mobile Food Vendor AFD On-site Inspection* $592 Mobile Food Vendor AFD Fire Subsequent Inspection Fee* $296 *Fees are assessed by City of Austin Fire Department.
Permit Fees for mobile food vendors in Unincorporated Travis County:
Permit Fee Type Permitting Fees Restricted or unrestricted Permit/Unit $258 Mobile Vendor Travis County Fire Inspection $266 Mobile Vendor Travis County Fire Re-inspection* $266 *First Travis County re-inspection at no cost.
- Central Preparation Facility Contract and Certification, and Restroom Facility Agreement
These documents completed by the owner or responsible party on file of the Central Preparation Facility (CPF).
- Central Preparation Facility Contract
- Central Preparation Facility Certification (for Facilities Outside of Austin/Travis County)
All City of Austin Mobile Food Vendors are required to submit and maintain a current Restroom Facility Agreement for each location where the mobile unit will operate for longer than two (2) hours.
- Variance Request / HACCP Review
Use this application to request a variance, allowing your establishment to deviate from the approved standards, and/or submit a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan showing how you will mitigate risks to food safety.
On-site Mobile Vending Program
Austin Public Health is excited to announce on-site mobile vending permitting. The goal of this program is to provide a streamlined, convenient option for mobile food vendors to obtain required permits directly at their operating locations. By offering on-site services, we are not only reducing administrative barriers but also helping vendors get into compliance faster, while maintaining the highest standards of public health and fire safety.
Recognizing the high demand and the limited staffing resources available to both the Fire Department and the Health Department, we have implemented a fair and equitable lottery scheduling system. This ensures that every applicant has equal access to the on-site permitting option, while allowing our teams to deliver consistent and efficient service in the field.To qualify for the lottery, you must be renewing your mobile vending permit, be within 45-90 days of your permit expiration date, and be operating within the City of Austin limits only.
Click this link to enter the mobile vending on-site inspection lottery: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=9hleXKumRUux0L5GCKmmf7NeuEOKQk1Grdri4YuotGlUOUdTM1NNTldRTjJVU1VLUjBXQTgwWUtGQi4u.
Resources for Mobile Food Vendors
- Guides
- How to Start a Mobile Food Business: A guide for Mobile Food Vendors in Austin and Travis County.
- Food Manager/Food Handler Requirements: Learn about the training and certification requirements for food enterprise personnel.
- Austin Fire Department Mobile Food Vending Requirements: Find links to help guide you through the fire inspection process.
- Travis County's Fire/Safety Protection Guidelines: Travis County Fire Marshal inspection guidelines for all unrestricted mobile vendors obtaining a Travis County permit.
- Waste: Learn about waste and how to do your part to reduce it.
- Food Donation Facts: Learn about donating food for human consumption.
- Food Donation Guide: View the guidelines pertaining to food donation.
- Cottage Food Guidance: View guidance for food preparation operated out of homes.
- Laws and Policies
- Federal Drug Administration: 2017 Food Code
- State Regulations: Texas Food Establishment Rules (TFER)
- State Regulations: Texas Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (Title 6, Chapter 431)
- Texas Administrative Code: Mobile Food Units (§228.221)
- Austin City Code: Food Code (Chapter 10-3)
- Austin City Code: Food Permit Application (Chapter 10-3-91)
- Austin City Code: Smoking in Public Places (Chapter 10-6)
- Austin City Code: Dogs Permitted in Outdoor Dining Areas (Ordinance No. 20151008-011)
- County Regulations: Chapter 247, Travis County Food Establishment Permits'
Have Feedback?
To help us better serve our customers, please provide feedback through the online survey below. To address a concern or request a second opinion regarding an inspection result or complaint, contact us at 512-978-0300 between 7:45 am to 4:45 pm Monday - Friday.
--> Feedback Survey: Austin Public Health Environmental Health Services
To return to our Environmental Health Services Division page, visit Environmental Health Services | Austin Public Health | AustinTexas.gov.