Brownsville has no dedicated food-truck fire permit page — but the fire layer is real. The city fee schedule lists a liquid propane gas tank permit at $50.00 and a fixed pipe extinguishing inspection at $40.00 under fire prevention, and the health department's food-establishment requirements send hood and suppression questions to the Fire Marshal's Office.
The city itself says "local jurisdictions are no longer issuing permits for mobile units" — your health license is DSHS. What you still do here: call the Fire Marshal (956-548-6075) about your propane tank and hood/suppression before your DSHS inspection, so fire and health are not waiting on each other. We are based in Brownsville; this is the page we use.
- 💵 $50.00 liquid propane gas tank permit · $40.00 fixed pipe extinguishing (hood suppression) inspection. (City of Brownsville fee schedule)
- 🔥 Fire Marshal's Office handles propane, hoods, and suppression for food units — 956-548-6075.
- 📄 No food-truck-specific fire page is published. The fee lines above are the closest published items; ask what applies to your unit.
- 🏥 Health license = DSHS. "As of July 1, 2026, DSHS has assumed full responsibility for permitting all Mobile Food Vendors."
- 🏞️ Food truck parks need a Specific Use Permit (Ordinance 2015-235.83) — ask the park operator for theirs.
Your DSHS Mobile Food Vendor License is the health license and it is statewide. Fire is still local. Two agencies, two fees, two inspections — budget both and do them in the order below. Brownsville food truck permit — everything else (DSHS + local).
Who needs it — and who doesn't
- REQUIRED: Units with propane tanks and units with cooking hoods/suppression systems operating in Brownsville — the fee schedule lists the LP-gas tank permit and the fixed-pipe extinguishing inspection, and the health department routes hood/suppression questions to the Fire Marshal.
- NOT REQUIRED / CONFIRM: Not published. A no-propane, no-hood unit has no obvious fire line on the schedule — confirm with the Fire Marshal's Office and keep the answer.
What it costs
| Fee | Amount | As published |
|---|---|---|
| Liquid propane gas tank permit | $50.00 | "Liquid propane gas tank permit" — fire prevention fees, City of Brownsville fee schedule. |
| Fixed pipe extinguishing inspection (hood suppression) | $40.00 | "Fixed pipe extinguishing inspection" — same schedule. |
Fee source: City of Brownsville — Fee Schedule · September 30, 2026
How to get it, step by step
Process source: City of Brownsville — Mobile Units (DSHS transition notice)
Timing and validity
- The fee schedule does not state validity periods for the LP-gas tank permit — ask whether it is annual.
- Fixed-pipe (hood) systems are commonly serviced semi-annually under the fire code; keep the tag current.
What the inspector checks
- Propane tank secured, with the LP-gas tank permit
- Hood and fixed-pipe suppression system serviced and tagged
- Portable extinguishers (ABC; Class K if frying) tagged
- Certified Food Protection Manager on duty during all hours (city food-establishment requirement) — confirm whether the city card is still expected from DSHS-licensed trucks
- DSHS license or pending-application packet on the vehicle
Checklist source: City of Brownsville — Fee Schedule and food-establishment requirements
Who to contact
What we could not verify
Common questions
How much is the Brownsville food truck fire permit?
Brownsville does not publish a food-truck-specific fire permit. The city fee schedule lists a liquid propane gas tank permit at $50.00 and a fixed pipe extinguishing (hood suppression) inspection at $40.00 under fire prevention fees. Confirm with the Fire Marshal's Office at 956-548-6075 which lines apply to your unit.
Who inspects propane and hoods on food trucks in Brownsville?
The Brownsville Fire Marshal's Office (956-548-6075). The health department's food-establishment requirements refer hood and suppression questions to the Fire Marshal.
Do I still need a City of Brownsville or Cameron County food truck permit?
No. The City of Brownsville states that as of July 1, 2026 DSHS has full responsibility for permitting mobile food vendors and local jurisdictions are no longer issuing permits for mobile units. The fire layer above is separate and still local.
Can I vend at a Brownsville food truck park?
Yes, if the park holds its Specific Use Permit under Ordinance 2015-235.83. Ask the park operator for a copy and keep it with your paperwork.
Sources
- City of Brownsville — Fee Schedule (LP-gas tank permit, fixed pipe extinguishing inspection)
- City of Brownsville — Mobile Units (DSHS transition notice)
- City of Brownsville — Food Truck Park SUP application
Published: September 30, 2026. Official pages read: September 30, 2026. Every fee and rule on this page is quoted from the official source named next to it. Local rules change without notice — if the city tells you something different, call us and we will check it against the source and log the correction, dated, on our updates page. Texas Food Truck Permits is an independent compliance service, not affiliated with any fire marshal's office, DSHS, or any government agency.
Reported by: Texas Food Truck Permits · Rolando Garza, licensed Texas food truck operator