⚠ HB 2844 IS IN EFFECT — DSHS LICENSING REQUIRED TO OPERATE IN TEXAS
THE TIMELINE SO FAR

Where We Are Right Now

JUNE 20, 2025
Governor Abbott signs HB 2844 into law, creating new Health and Safety Code Chapter 437B governing Mobile Food Vendors statewide.
MAY 1, 2026
DSHS's final rules under 25 TAC 226 take effect, replacing the earlier draft rule fee structure with the finalized version.
MAY 15, 2026
Houston Health Department stops accepting new local plan review applications for Mobile Food Units ahead of the state transition.
JUNE 1, 2026
DSHS opens the statewide Mobile Food Vendor License application through Online Licensing Services.
JUNE 10, 2026
Austin Public Health holds a public Mobile Food Vendor Townhall to walk local operators through the transition.
RIGHT NOW
Local jurisdictions are still licensing operators under their old rules — but only until June 30, 2026. Operators must apply with DSHS now to avoid a gap.
JULY 1, 2026
HB 2844 fully takes effect. Local permits issued before this date are not expected to be valid for operation after June 30. Every Mobile Food Vendor in Texas must hold a DSHS license.
CITY-BY-CITY STATUS

Your City Isn't Handling This the Same Way as the Next One.

Some cities stopped local processing weeks early. Others are still working out fee alignment with the state. Check your city's specific status before assuming what applies elsewhere applies to you.

Houston

EARLY CUTOFF

Stopped accepting new local plan review applications May 15, 2026 — six weeks ahead of the statewide deadline. Fire marshal and LP-gas requirements remain separate from DSHS.

Houston status & requirements →

Austin

FEE ALIGNMENT PENDING

Austin Public Health signed an inspection-support agreement with DSHS, but city leaders flagged in an April 2026 memo that Austin's local fee structure doesn't fully align with the new state system yet.

Austin status & requirements →

Dallas

HEALTH/FIRE SPLIT

Dallas County confirms its MFU permit covers health and safety inspection only — fire and safety inspection requirements are handled separately by whichever city or area the truck operates in.

Dallas status & requirements →

San Antonio

TRANSITIONING

Following the statewide July 1 timeline. Confirm current local requirements directly while the city finalizes its post-transition inspection role.

San Antonio status & requirements →

Fort Worth

TRANSITIONING

Following the statewide July 1 timeline. We're tracking local updates as the city confirms its post-transition process.

Fort Worth status & requirements →

Brownsville / RGV

TRANSITIONING

Cameron County CPF and commissary requirements continue to apply alongside the new DSHS license. Local 956-market specifics confirmed in our city guide.

Brownsville status & requirements →
FEE DISCREPANCY ALERT

⚠ If You've Seen $250 / $500 / $800 Anywhere — That's Outdated.

An October 2025 DSHS committee overview document listed draft application fees of $250 (Type I), $500 (Type II), and $800 (Type III). Those were draft numbers. The finalized Mobile Food Vendor Guide — the rules actually in effect now — set different, higher fees, plus separate pre-licensing inspection fees that didn't exist in the original draft summary at all.

TYPE
OLD DRAFT FEE
FINAL FEE (CURRENT)
Type I
$250
$309
Type II
$500
$618 + $400 insp.
Type III
$800
$876 + $500 insp.

If you're budgeting off an old blog post, an outdated PDF, or a competitor's guide still showing the lower numbers, you're underestimating your actual cost. Use our calculator for the current figures →

THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS

Is This Actually Good for Every Operator?

Most coverage of HB 2844 frames it as a clear win — one permit instead of a patchwork of local ones. That's true for operators who move between cities and counties regularly. It's less clearly true for operators who only ever planned to work their home market: some local permits were cheaper than the new combined state application and inspection fees, meaning a portion of operators are now paying for statewide mobility they may never use. We'd rather tell you that directly than oversell the law. Either way, the requirement is the requirement — what matters now is making sure you're not caught without a license after July 1, regardless of how you feel about the tradeoff.

QUESTIONS WE'RE TRACKING

Frequently Asked — Transition Specific

When does HB 2844 fully take effect? +
July 1, 2026. Local mobile food vendor permits issued before that date are not expected to be valid for operation after June 30, 2026. DSHS opened the statewide application on June 1, 2026, and recommends applying as early as possible to avoid an operating gap.
Do the DSHS fees match the original draft rule? +
No — see the fee discrepancy section above. The draft rule fees from October 2025 ($250/$500/$800) were replaced by the finalized Mobile Food Vendor Guide fees, which are higher and include separate inspection fees not reflected in the original draft summary.
Is my city handling this the same way as every other city? +
No. Each city and county is managing the transition on its own timeline. Some stopped local processing weeks before the state deadline; others are still finalizing how their local fee structures and inspection roles fit alongside the new DSHS system. Check the city-by-city status section above for specifics.
What happens if I don't apply before July 1? +
Local permits are not expected to be valid for operation after June 30, 2026. Operating without a DSHS license after July 1 is a violation. The longer you wait, the less runway you have to fix any issues found at your pre-licensing inspection before that deadline hits.
Will this page change after July 1? +
Yes. We're tracking this as a living page, not a one-time announcement — updates to rules, city-specific status, and any further fee changes will be reflected here as they happen.

Don't Navigate This Transition Alone.

Our Pre-Inspection Operator Audit confirms exactly where your specific operation stands — your type, your city's current status, your fees, and what's left to do before July 1.

START TODAY — $99

This page reflects publicly available information from DSHS, city and county health departments, and contemporaneous news coverage as of the last-updated date above. Regulations, fees, and city-specific timelines are subject to change — always confirm current requirements directly with DSHS and your local jurisdiction before making operating decisions. This is not legal advice.