Mobile Food Units
Attention mobile food unit operators
- Effective immediately, medallion inspections conducted at the Environmental Inspection Center (7427 Park Place Blvd Houston TX 77087) are subject to cancellation if the mobile food unit is under temporary closure. Temporary closures must be lifted in-field before medallion inspections can be conducted.
- Fire Inspection - Annual: The Information for MFU’s Annual Fire Inspection has changed. Use the first four pages to guide you (Self-assessment…) and if you need more details read the last three pages (Information…). The document is available in English and Spanish. El documento está disponible en Español e Inglés.
- Fire Inspection – Temporary: The Temporary permit is valid ONLY for the Event. The requirements are the same as the Annual Fire Inspection. Contact your Event Coordinator for the instructions.”
- Effective July 1, 2025, all mobile food units that are undergoing a change in ownership will be required to submit an application and process a plan review fee. See application for full details.
Change of Ownership Mobile Food Unit Application
Common Mistakes in Mobile Food Inspections
Commercial Grade Equipment
- All appliances (e.g., refrigerators, freezers) must be commercial grade. The use of residential appliances is prohibited.
- Commercial equipment must be designated for its intended use, such as a display cooler for packaged bottles or non-TCS (Temperature Control for Safety) foods.
Notary Requirements
- A notary’s signature must be dated on the same day they notarize the document. The date on the notary certificate should match the date the signer appears before the notary, even if the document itself has a different date.
Lighting
- A minimum of 50-foot candles of lighting must be provided at all working surfaces.
Wastewater Vent
- The wastewater tank vent must terminate in a downward direction.
Restroom Requirements During Operating Hours
- A restroom letter must be provided from a business within 500 meters of the mobile food unit's operating location.
Documentation
- Provide physical copies of the following required documents:
- Mobile Food Unit (MFU) plans
- Vehicle insurance card
- Menu disclosure form
- List of location form
- Restroom letter
- Property letter
- Health 1-8 form
- Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) form
- Mobile Food Unit (MFU) plans
How to schedule your food truck inspection
- Online (faster): Schedule an appointment online or get the free QLess app (available for both iOS and Android). Join the line from anywhere, wait wherever you want, receive wait time updates, and get notified when it's your turn.
- Phone: 832-393-5100
- Text message: On Wednesdays and Thursdays, text "Food Truck" or "Foodtruck" to 626-313-4758.
Documents and forms
- Operating a Mobile Food Units in the City of Houston
- Mobile food unit required documents checklist with forms
- Mobile food unit plan review application
- For these and other documents, go to our documents search page.
- HFD Annual Fire Inspection for MFU’s
- HFD Inspección Anual de Bomberos para MFU’s
- Approved Commissary List
- Change of Ownership Mobile Food Unit Application
Upcoming Changes to Food Safety Regulations – Effective September 1, 2025
In accordance with Senate Bill 1008, the Houston Health Department will update all local food safety regulations to align fully with state and federal laws.
Effective September 1, 2025, the City of Houston will:
- Adopt the FDA Model Food Code and Texas Food Establishment Rules (TFER) by reference.
- Repeal the Houston Food Ordinance (Chapter 20 – Food and Drugs).
- And eliminate all duplicative or conflicting provisions in local law.
These updates will ensure consistency across jurisdictions, reduce regulatory confusion for operators and modernize our approach to food safety based on risk.
📅 Timeline and Next Steps
Summer - Fall 2025:
The Health Department will begin training staff, engage with industry stakeholders and provide outreach to food establishment operators.
September 1, 2025:
The new food safety framework goes into effect. All inspections and enforcement actions will reference the FDA Model Food Code and TFER.
Fall 2025 and beyond:
HHD will continue to offer technical assistance, provide updated inspection tools and evaluate implementation for ongoing improvements.
Stay tuned to this page for training materials, FAQs and upcoming webinars.
What This Means for Food Businesses
Most food operators in Houston will not experience major changes to their daily operations or compliance responsibilities. The Houston Food Ordinance has historically transcribed large portions of state and federal food safety rules.
The primary change is how violations are categorized: Retail Food Safety Inspections Violation Category Comparison Chart
We are moving from “critical” and “non-critical” violations to the FDA’s risk-based categories:
- Priority
- Priority Foundation
- Core
This change will help improve clarity, consistency and public health protection while aligning Houston with food safety systems used nationwide.
Food operators will still:
- Work with the same inspectors.
- Follow the same safety practices.
- And continue routine inspections and corrective actions.
The Houston Health Department is committed to a smooth transition with no disruption to your business operations.
Fee Structure Update – Effective September 1, 2025
As part of Senate Bill 1008, the Houston Health Department is aligning local food safety regulations and permit fees with those set by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). This includes adopting the risk-based fee model and repealing all local permit categories not recognized by DSHS.
Starting September 1, 2025:
- All food permit fees must align with DSHS’s fee-based structure.
- Permit categories must match those recognized by DSHS. Houston may no longer issue permits for categories not included in state law (with exception for the FOG Generator permit).
- Local, employee-based fee calculations are no longer allowed.
What This Means for You
- Most businesses will see no change in permitting processes, only in the fee calculation.
- The new model promotes fairness by aligning costs with public health risk.
- Temporary permit holders benefit from a more affordable and flexible permit system.
Retail Food Safety Inspections Fee Structure Changes Document