In Dallas the health permit came from the county (DCHHS) and is now the DSHS license — but fire has always been the City of Dallas, and still is. The city's mobile food guidance lists a "Low propane gas permit (if used)" from the Dallas Fire Department Inspection Unit, an automatic fire suppression system approved by Dallas Fire-Rescue over any cooking surface that requires exhaust, and a DFR-approved extinguisher on board.
DFR's published permit fee schedule (Ordinance 32556, effective October 1, 2023) lists $205 for Mobile Food Preparation Vehicles, $195 for LP-gas portable cooking on a vehicle ($160 for a cart), $310 for LP-gas storage/use, and re-inspection fees of $171 / $200 / $255. Which lines apply to your unit is DFR's call — the number to book the appointment is (214) 670-4319.
- 🔥 Propane permit if you use LP-gas + DFR-approved automatic suppression over cooking surfaces that require exhaust + DFR-approved extinguisher. (City of Dallas Mobile Food Prep Guidelines, 2022)
- 💵 $205 Mobile Food Preparation Vehicles · $195 LP-gas portable cooking [vehicle] · $160 [cart] · $310 LP-gas storage/use. (DFR Schedule of Permit Fees, eff. 10/1/2023)
- 🔁 Re-inspections cost money in Dallas: $171 first, $200 second, $255 third and each after. Show up ready.
- 📞 Book through the DFR Inspection Unit, (214) 670-4319. DFR does not publish a step-by-step mobile food application online.
- 🅿️ Parking is a separate city layer — improved surfaces only, written property-owner agreement with restroom access, CBD concession license downtown.
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. Dallas food truck permit — everything else (DSHS + local).
Who needs it — and who doesn't
- REQUIRED: Mobile food preparation vehicles operating in the City of Dallas — the city's guidelines call for the propane permit "if used," a DFR-approved automatic suppression system over any cooking surface that requires exhaust, and a DFR-approved extinguisher.
- NOT REQUIRED / CONFIRM: The guidelines do not spell out an exemption for no-cook units. If you have no propane and no cooking surface that requires exhaust, ask the Inspection Unit what, if anything, applies before you assume nothing does.
What it costs
| Fee | Amount | As published |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile Food Preparation Vehicles | $205 | DFR Schedule of Permit Fees — "Mobile Food Preparation Vehicles $205." |
| LP-Gas Demo/Portable Cooking [VEHICLE] | $195 | Same schedule. The [CART] line is $160. |
| LP-Gas Storage/Use | $310 | Same schedule — a separate line; ask DFR whether it applies to your setup. |
| Re-inspection | $171 / $200 / $255 | 1st / 2nd / 3rd and each subsequent re-inspection. |
Fee source: Dallas Fire-Rescue — Schedule of Permit Fees (Ordinance 32556, effective 10/01/2023) (PDF) · September 30, 2026
How to get it, step by step
Process source: City of Dallas — Mobile Food Prep Guidelines 2022 (PDF)
Timing and validity
- Annual permit lines on the DFR schedule — plan on renewing yearly.
- Re-inspections are billed, and the price rises each time. A failed first inspection costs $171 to redo.
What the inspector checks
- Propane permit from the DFR Inspection Unit if the unit uses LP-gas
- Automatic fire suppression system approved by Dallas Fire-Rescue over any cooking surface that requires exhaust
- DFR-approved fire extinguisher on board
- Suppression service tag current (semi-annual is the common fire-code interval — confirm with DFR)
- Propane cylinders secured; lines and regulators in good condition
- Written itinerary accurate to within 30 minutes (city guideline) — inspectors and code officers cross-check it
Checklist source: City of Dallas — Mobile Food Prep Guidelines 2022 (PDF)
Who to contact
What we could not verify
Common questions
How much is the Dallas food truck fire permit?
Dallas Fire-Rescue's published Schedule of Permit Fees (Ordinance 32556, effective October 1, 2023) lists Mobile Food Preparation Vehicles at $205, LP-gas portable cooking on a vehicle at $195 (a cart is $160), and LP-gas storage/use at $310. Re-inspections are $171 for the first, $200 for the second, and $255 for the third and each after. Which lines apply to your unit is confirmed by the DFR Inspection Unit at (214) 670-4319.
Does Dallas require a fire suppression system on food trucks?
Yes. The City of Dallas Mobile Food Prep Guidelines require an automatic fire suppression system approved by Dallas Fire-Rescue over any cooking surface that requires exhaust, plus a DFR-approved extinguisher on board.
Do I still need a Dallas County health permit?
No. Dallas County Health and Human Services states that local permits issued before July 1, 2026 are no longer valid and are not expected to be grandfathered. The DSHS Mobile Food Vendor License is the health license; the DFR fire permit is separate and still local.
How do I schedule a Dallas Fire-Rescue food truck inspection?
Call the DFR Inspection Unit at (214) 670-4319. DFR has not published an online step-by-step application for mobile food units, so the phone call is the process.
Sources
- Dallas Fire-Rescue — Schedule of Permit Fees (Ord. 32556, eff. 10/01/2023)
- City of Dallas — Mobile Food Prep Guidelines 2022
- Dallas County Health and Human Services — MFU inspections (HB 2844 notice)
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