El Paso is the only major Texas city that created a brand-new local fire license timed to the DSHS handoff. The Fire Marshal's Office: "Effective July 1, 2026, an annual Fire License Inspection (LFIR) will be required for all Mobile Food Preparation Vehicles" vending or operating inside city limits — meaning any vehicle with cooking equipment that produces smoke or grease-laden vapors (2021 International Fire Code definition).
The published fees are $125.00 for the annual LFIR and $72.00 per re-inspection. The office references a 2026 EPFD MFPV Inspector Guide and a Requirements document — ask for both when you call (915) 212-5699. Budget for it: your DSHS inspection does not cover fire.
- 🆕 New July 1, 2026: annual Fire License Inspection (LFIR) for all Mobile Food Preparation Vehicles in El Paso city limits.
- 💵 $125.00 annual LFIR · $72.00 re-inspection. (Fire Marshal's Office page)
- 🔥 Who: vehicles with cooking equipment that produces smoke or grease-laden vapors — 2021 IFC definition of an MFPV.
- 📞 Fire Marshal's Office, 300 N. Campbell, El Paso, TX 79901 · (915) 212-5699.
- 🤝 Coordination: the department said it would try to coordinate fire checks with the state health inspection where possible (local news, July 6, 2026).
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. El Paso food truck permit — everything else (DSHS + local).
Who needs it — and who doesn't
- REQUIRED: Every Mobile Food Preparation Vehicle vending or operating within City of El Paso limits — per the 2021 IFC, a vehicle containing cooking equipment that produces smoke or grease-laden vapors.
- NOT REQUIRED / CONFIRM: A unit with no cooking equipment producing smoke or grease-laden vapors is outside the IFC definition of an MFPV. The office page does not spell out an exemption — confirm by phone if you run a no-cook unit.
What it costs
| Fee | Amount | As published |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fire License Inspection (LFIR) | $125.00 | "$125.00" — Fire Marshal's Office fee schedule for MFPVs. |
| Re-inspection | $72.00 | "$72.00" per re-inspection. |
Fee source: El Paso Fire Department — Fire Marshal's Office · September 30, 2026
How to get it, step by step
Process source: El Paso Fire Department — Fire Marshal's Office
Timing and validity
- Annual — the license inspection repeats every year.
- Effective July 1, 2026 for units already operating; the fire department told local media it would try to coordinate with state health inspections to cut down on repeat visits.
What the inspector checks
- Cooking equipment producing smoke or grease-laden vapors covered by a hood and automatic suppression system, serviced and tagged
- Portable extinguishers appropriate to the cooking (ABC, plus Class K for frying), tagged
- LP-gas system inspected and in good condition — cylinders secured, shutoffs accessible
- Ventilation and electrical in the condition the 2021 IFC expects for MFPVs
- Valid state (DSHS) health license or pending application on the vehicle
- The 2026 EPFD MFPV Requirements document in hand — it is the checklist the inspector uses
Checklist source: El Paso Fire Department — Fire Marshal's Office (2026 EPFD MFPV Inspector Guide and Requirements referenced)
Who to contact
What we could not verify
Common questions
How much is the El Paso food truck fire license?
The El Paso Fire Marshal's Office publishes $125.00 for the annual Fire License Inspection (LFIR) and $72.00 for each re-inspection.
Is the El Paso fire license new?
Yes. Effective July 1, 2026 — the same day DSHS took over health licensing — an annual LFIR is required for all Mobile Food Preparation Vehicles operating in El Paso city limits, under the 2021 International Fire Code.
Which food trucks need the El Paso LFIR?
Mobile Food Preparation Vehicles as defined by the 2021 IFC: vehicles containing cooking equipment that produces smoke or grease-laden vapors. If your unit does not cook, confirm with the Fire Marshal's Office at (915) 212-5699.
Does my DSHS license cover the El Paso fire inspection?
No. The DSHS license is the health license. The LFIR is a separate city fire requirement with its own fee and its own inspection.
Sources
- El Paso Fire Department — Fire Marshal's Office (LFIR, fees, contact)
- City of El Paso — Code Enforcement (DSHS transition notice)
- Hoodline — El Paso food trucks put on the hot seat with new annual fire checks (July 6, 2026; news source)
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