If your truck uses propane (LP-gas) for anything — cooking or powering equipment — you need a Houston Fire Marshal's Office permit, separate from your DSHS license: the L1 annual permit (FMA) for regular operation in city limits, or the L3 temporary permit (FTP) for events. HFMO's own 2026 process starts with "Register with the Texas Department of State Health Services."
The fee on the city's mobile food unit information sheet is $225.14. The inspection follows a published list of 20 points (cylinders secured, gas alarm, Type I hood, ABC and Type K extinguishers, no extension cords). Below: the fee, the 7 steps, the 20 points, and the two addresses that confuse everyone.
- 🔥 Propane = permit. "If you use LP-Gas, you need a Fire Marshal's Permit to operate, whether you use it for cooking or to power other equipment." (HFMO FAQ)
- 💵 $225.14 — LP-gas permit fee on the HFD information sheet for mobile food units (revised January 2024). HFMO's 2026 documents do not restate the amount — confirm at purchase.
- 1️⃣ DSHS first. Step one of HFMO's 2026 process is registering with DSHS; HFMO then emails you a notice to start.
- 📋 20 inspection points, published for 2026 (document version HFD LSB MFU N2026 v1.0, dated 5/25/26).
- 📍 Two addresses. HFMO's office is at 7427 Park Place Blvd; permits are purchased through the Houston Permitting Center (1002 Washington Ave / permits.houstontx.gov).
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. Houston food truck permit — everything else (DSHS + local).
Who needs it — and who doesn't
- REQUIRED: Any mobile food unit that uses LP-gas (propane, butane, isobutane) — for cooking or to power other equipment — operating inside Houston city limits. Each unit at the same property needs its own permit.
- NOT REQUIRED / CONFIRM: HFMO publishes a separate information sheet for trucks that use electricity, firewood, or charcoal instead of LP-gas. If you have no LP-gas on the unit, read that sheet and call HFMO — the permit on this page is the LP-gas permit.
What it costs
| Fee | Amount | As published |
|---|---|---|
| LP-gas permit (mobile food unit) | $225.14 | HFD information sheet for mobile food units, hosted by the Houston Health Department — "Permit fee is $225.14." Revised January 2024. |
| L3 temporary (event) permit | Not published | The FTP fee was not stated on the pages we read. Ask HFMO when you apply. |
Fee source: Houston Fire Department — Information for Mobile Food Units (PDF, revised Jan 2024) · September 30, 2026
How to get it, step by step
Process source: HFMO — Fire Permit: Food Trucks using Propane, Butane, Isobutane (PDF, v1.0, 5/25/26)
Timing and validity
- The annual LP-gas permit "must be approved by the Houston Fire Marshal's Office within 90 calendar days of purchase (application receipt)."
- Your LP-gas system inspection (by a licensed LP-gas company, identified by VIN or plate) must be approved by HFMO within 90 calendar days of the date on the inspection report; the approved sticker on the appliances is valid 12 months.
- Since January 1, 2023 an automatic fire extinguishing system is required, inspected every 6 months, with a tag "not to be older than 6 months" and "not within 2 weeks of expiration" at inspection.
What the inspector checks
- LP-gas appliances secured to the truck
- LP-gas lines in use or capped off
- Cylinders upright and secured from falling, car crashes, or bystanders
- Visible, accessible shut-off valve on the cylinders
- "Emergency Shutoff Valve" sign near the shut-off valve
- "No Smoking" sign near the cylinders
- "No Fumar" sign near the cylinders
- LP / combustible / explosive gas alarm installed near the LP-gas appliances
- Red ABC extinguisher, 3A:40BC
- Silver/gray Type K extinguisher, 2A:K (frying operations)
- Type I ventilation system with no gaps between filters
- Motor regulated so filters are not suctioned
- Grease rail discharge hole present
- Grease drip pans present
- Vapor/explosion-proof lighting only
- Male inlet service-entry power supply in weather-rated casing, or direct breaker-box connection
- Electrical cables protected from physical damage
- No extension cords as permanent wiring
- No plug overloading
- Bumper protection for the LP-gas cylinder against rear-end collisions
Checklist source: HFMO — 2026 Food Truck Inspection Points (PDF, v1.0, 5/25/26)
Who to contact
What we could not verify
Common questions
How much is the Houston food truck fire permit?
The Houston Fire Department information sheet for mobile food units (revised January 2024) states the LP-gas permit fee is $225.14. HFMO's 2026 process documents do not restate the fee, so confirm the amount when you purchase the permit through the Houston Permitting Center.
Do I need the Houston fire permit if my DSHS license is approved?
Yes. HB 2844 moved the health license to the state; it did not touch fire codes. If your unit uses LP-gas for anything, HFMO requires its own permit (L1 annual or L3 temporary) with its own inspection — and HFMO's process actually begins with your DSHS registration.
Where is the Houston Fire Marshal's Office for food trucks?
HFMO's 2026 food truck documents list 7427 Park Place Blvd., Houston, TX 77087, phone 832-394-8811. Permits themselves are purchased through the Houston Permitting Center at 1002 Washington Ave. (permits.houstontx.gov), which is why older guides list that address.
What does the Houston Fire Marshal check on a food truck?
The published 2026 list has 20 points: LP-gas appliances and cylinders secured, shut-off valve with signage, "No Smoking / No Fumar" signs, a gas alarm, an ABC (3A:40BC) extinguisher and a Type K for frying, a Type I hood with no filter gaps, grease rail and drip pans, explosion-proof lighting, weather-rated power inlet, protected cables, no extension cords, no overloaded plugs, and bumper protection for the cylinder.
Sources
- HFMO — Food Trucks (main page)
- HFMO FAQ — LP-gas permit requirement
- HFMO — Fire Permit: Food Trucks using Propane (7-step process, 5/25/26)
- HFMO — 2026 Food Truck Inspection Points (5/25/26)
- HFD — Information for Mobile Food Units ($225.14, 90-day rules; rev. Jan 2024)
- HFD presentation to City Council — downtown 60-lb limit (3/3/25)
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