As of July 1, 2026, every food truck, trailer, and cart in San Antonio needs a DSHS Mobile Food Vendor License — Metro Health's city mobile vending inspections ended June 30, 2026. What is still local: the San Antonio Fire Department inspection, required yearly if you have propane, a generator, or a gas/charcoal/wood grill, plus where you can park and the downtown vending permit. Verified from official sa.gov pages.
Yes — one state license, plus whatever San Antonio still handles locally. Since July 1, 2026 the health license for every Texas mobile food vendor is the DSHS Mobile Food Vendor License (House Bill 2844, Health & Safety Code Chapter 437B). Cities and counties no longer issue the health permit. Fire, zoning/location, food handler, and event rules can still be local. Here is how that breaks down in San Antonio:
Required for every mobile food unit. Type I, II, or III — apply through DSHS Online Licensing.
Ended. "City Mobile Vending Inspections ... will end on June 30, 2026." DSHS schedules inspections now.
Still required — "yearly for the DSHS mobile vending license" if you use propane, a generator, or a gas/charcoal/wood grill.
Still city rules: 50 ft from intersections, 300 ft from schools around school hours, not from residential property, notarized permission on private property.
Not sure which box you fall in? Call or text (956) 592-2896 — you'll talk to a Texas operator who deals with DSHS every week, not a call center.
The state health license and the San Antonio rules are two separate processes. If you are opening a new truck with no current Texas license, this is the order that keeps you from calling the wrong office:
Haven’t built your truck yet? See the 5 best food truck builders in San Antonio, ranked by Google reviews.
New to the statewide license? Start with the complete HB 2844 guide →
Beginning July 1, 2026, every mobile food vendor operating in San Antonio and Bexar County must hold a license issued by the Texas Department of State Health Services. A separate DSHS license is required for each food vending vehicle. Here is what San Antonio's own government says about it:
“Beginning July 1, 2026: House Bill 2844 states that all Mobile Food Vendors (MFV) must be licensed with the Texas Department of State Health Services to operate a Food Vending Vehicle (FVV) in the state of Texas. ... After July 1, 2026, Mobile vending inspections will be scheduled by the Texas Department of State Health Services.”— San Antonio Metro Health · official source · read 2026-09-29
San Antonio is the clearest of the big Texas cities on this: Metro Health's page explicitly ties the yearly SAFD fire inspection to your DSHS license.
Sells prepackaged food only. $309 DSHS application fee. No pre-licensing inspection fee. Examples: packaged snacks, bottled drinks, prepackaged meals.
Minimal food prep or ROP items. $618 application + $400 inspection = $1,018 in government fees. Examples: snow cones, hot dogs, deli items.
Cooks and serves made-to-order food. $876 application + $500 inspection = $1,376 in government fees. Examples: taco trucks, burger rigs, BBQ trailers.
CPF (commissary) rules are DSHS rules — the same statewide. Most Type II and III units need a licensed CPF or must qualify for the exemption. Read the CPF requirements →
HB 2844 moved the health license to the state. It did not touch fire codes, zoning, food handler programs, or event permits. This is what San Antonio and Bexar County still run themselves — pulled from their official pages, with the source on every item.
Metro Health: "If a Food Vending Vehicle is operating with a propane tank, generator, or gas/charcoal/wood burning grill a fire inspection is required" and "a fire inspection is required yearly for the DSHS mobile vending license." SAFD requires the permit when cooking or heating happens in the unit or a generator is used. It is issued as a Mobile Food Establishment operational permit under the city's adopted fire code (2021 International Fire Code with local amendments), and the inspection comes before the permit. Inspections are held Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8–11 a.m., at the Claude Black Community Center (2805 E. Commerce); apply through BuildSA. The SAFD checklist calls for an automatic fire extinguishing system over all cooking equipment, a 2A10BC extinguisher minimum, LP-gas not exceeding 200 lb aggregate, tanks at least 5 ft from the primary exit, and generator refueling at least 20 ft from the unit. Fee: $300.00 plus a 3% surcharge (SAFD page) — the $300 figure also appears in an older (February 2023) SAFD document, so confirm the current amount when you apply.
Published location rules: stay 50 feet from an intersection; 300 feet from the property line of any school one hour before, during, and one hour after school; no vending from a residential property; on private property you need written, notarized permission from the property owner and accessible flush toilets. Vending downtown requires a separate Center City Development (CCDO) special permit, and city parks require Parks & Recreation permission. The rules also prohibit tables, chairs, awnings, or any seating or eating area around a mobile unit; units may park on commercial property and may stop in a public right-of-way subject to the city's conditions. A distance-from-restaurant rule was not published on these pages.
Downtown has its own Downtown Mobile Food Truck Vending Program permit from Downtown Operations ($100 primary vendor fee, Ordinance 2008-05-15-0402). The 2026–2027 checklist accepts your State of Texas health permit in place of the old city health permit, and also asks for a current fire inspection permit, a certificate of insurance naming the City of San Antonio as additionally insured, a color menu with prices, and four photos of the truck. Contact: 210-207-3677 or downtownvending@sanantonio.gov.
Metro Health still sells temporary food event permits for booths (14-day single event or a two-year multi-event permit; buy at least three days before; commercial property only). The page does not say whether a DSHS-licensed truck needs one at an event — ask Metro Health before you book.
Fire permit, step by step: San Antonio food truck fire permit — fees, process, inspection points →
Verified against official San Antonio / Bexar County / DSHS pages on 2026-09-29. Local rules change without notice — if you were told something different, call us and we will check it with the source. See also: why the state permit doesn't cover fire inspections · how to get your Texas food truck permit, step by step.
The DSHS pre-licensing inspection covers 28 items. One deficiency means a failed inspection — and DSHS confirmed there's no re-inspection fee for routine corrections, so what it really costs you is time. Back in the queue while your truck sits, and operators are already reporting waits of several months. We review your operation in advance so you pass the first time.
Questions before you buy? Call or text (956) 592-2896 — you'll talk to an actual Texas operator, not a call center.
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