Texas Commissary Kitchen Rules for Food Trucks (2026)

Updated July 26, 2026 - reflects HB 2844 after its July 1, 2026 effective date and the local-rule checks operators still need to make.

Every Texas food truck operator has to answer one question before anything else: where is your commissary? Without a signed, approved commissary agreement, no Texas health department will issue or renew your food truck permit. This is not a city-specific rule — it is baked into Texas Food Establishment Rules (25 TAC Ch. 228) and applies across the entire state. Now that HB 2844 is in effect, the practical answer depends on whether your truck is self-contained and whether your local health department still requires a commissary under local code.

This guide explains exactly what Texas requires, how it works city by city (Houston, Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, Fort Worth, El Paso), what a commissary agreement must contain, what it costs, where to find one, and how HB 2844 changes the rules. We also cover the mistakes that get operators denied at inspection.

The Texas Commissary Rule

Texas requires all mobile food vendors to operate from an approved commissary kitchen. This is not optional, not a city preference, and not something you can work around. Under Texas Food Establishment Rules (25 TAC Chapter 228), a mobile food unit must operate from a licensed food establishment that serves as the base of operations for food preparation, equipment cleaning, wastewater disposal, and storage.

The practical consequence: your city or county health department will not issue or renew your food truck permit unless you have a signed commissary agreement on file. Show up to a permit inspection without one, and the inspection ends immediately. Apply without one, and your application is rejected before it is reviewed.

This rule applies regardless of city. Austin, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Fort Worth, El Paso, Lubbock — all require it. What varies by city is which jurisdiction must approve your commissary and how strictly they enforce specific amenities.

HB 2844: What Changed on July 1, 2026

House Bill 2844 — sometimes called the "Food Truck Freedom Bill" — was signed into law and took full effect on July 1, 2026. It made two major changes that affect every food truck operator in Texas:

What Your Commissary Must Provide

Under TFER (25 TAC Ch. 228), a valid Texas commissary must be a licensed food establishment and must provide the following. This table shows what is required, why it matters, and what inspectors specifically check:

Requirement	Why It Matters	What Inspectors Check
Valid TFER food establishment license	Unlicensed facilities cannot legally serve as commissaries — period	License number on agreement matches DSHS database; license is current and not suspended
Approved wastewater disposal	Your truck generates greywater and cooking waste daily — it must go somewhere approved	Three-compartment sink or designated slop sink; proper grease trap connection; no dumping in parking lot drains
Potable water fill station	Food trucks must fill fresh water tanks from a tested, approved source before each service	Functioning hose bib or fill station; backflow prevention device; water supply meets testing requirements
Food preparation surfaces	Any prep done off the truck (marinating, batch cooking, cold prep) needs a licensed space	NSF-certified surfaces; proper handwash sinks; temperature logs for cold/hot holding
Cold and dry storage	Ingredients and prepared items need proper temperature-controlled storage between service periods	Walk-in or reach-in cooler/freezer at proper temps; dry storage off the floor, away from chemicals
Equipment storage	Truck supplies and equipment need covered, enclosed storage when not in use	Documented in agreement; Houston and Austin inspectors flag absence; must be vermin-proof
Truck parking / overnight storage	Many operators need a secure place to park the truck overnight — not all commissaries include this	Not universally required but strongly recommended; gated parking with electrical hookups adds $200–$500/mo to cost

The commissary does not have to be exclusively for food trucks. Restaurants, catering companies, ghost kitchens, and institutional kitchens can all serve as commissaries — as long as they hold a valid TFER food establishment license issued by the same health authority covering your operating area.

City-by-City Commissary Rules in Texas

This is where operators get tripped up. The commissary approval process is jurisdiction-specific. Your commissary must be approved by the same health department that licenses your food truck. Here is how that breaks down across the six major Texas metros:

Commissary Kitchen Costs by City (2026)

Commissary pricing varies significantly by metro. Austin is the most expensive — high demand, fewer licensed facilities relative to the number of food trucks. San Antonio and smaller Texas cities offer the best rates. Here is what to expect in 2026:

When comparing commissary rates, factor in what is actually included. A $400/month commissary with wastewater dumping, water fill, cold storage, and prep time is a better value than a $250/month facility that only offers water fill and a signature. And keep in mind: secure overnight truck parking with gated access and electrical hookups typically adds $200–$500/month on top of base commissary fees in Houston and Austin.

Top Commissary Kitchens in Texas (2026)

These are real, operating commissary facilities across the major Texas metros. All are TFER-licensed and serve food truck operators. Verify current availability and pricing directly with each facility before signing:

Prices shown are typical ranges based on 2026 market data. Many facilities offer hourly rates ($15–$50/hr) for operators who need less access. Always verify current pricing, availability, and TFER license status directly with the facility before signing any agreement. *"Call for rates" means the facility does not publish monthly pricing — contact them directly for a current quote.

Types of Commissary Arrangements in Texas

Not all commissary arrangements look the same. Texas health departments will accept several types of arrangements as long as the facility holds a valid TFER license:

What a Texas Commissary Agreement Must Include

A valid Texas commissary agreement is a written document — not an informal handshake, not a text message, and not a simple lease. Most Texas health departments want it on commissary letterhead. At minimum, it must include:

• Commissary name, address, and license number: The full legal address and the commissary's current food establishment permit number from the relevant health authority (COHD, APH, DCHHS, TCPH, SAMHD, etc.).
• Owner and operator names: Both the commissary owner (or authorized representative) and the food truck operator must be identified by name.
• Services included: Explicitly list what the commissary provides — food prep space, water fill station, wastewater disposal, cold storage, equipment storage. Inspectors will check that your agreement covers what your operation actually requires.
• Access hours and schedule: When you can access the facility. A commissary agreement that provides 24/7 access is worth more than one that restricts you to daytime hours only.
• Agreement term and renewal date: Month-to-month or annual. Most health departments prefer a defined term. You must notify your health department when you change commissaries.
• Commissary owner signature: The commissary operator must sign. An unsigned agreement is rejected immediately.

Ask the commissary for a copy of their current health department license to attach to your permit application. Inspectors in Houston and Austin commonly ask for it, and having it ready speeds up application review by days.

How to Find a Commissary Kitchen in Texas

Finding a commissary is the single most time-consuming step in the Texas food truck permitting process. Here are the most effective strategies, ranked by reliability:

• DSHS licensed establishment database: Search TFER-licensed food establishments by city and zip code. Filter for commissary kitchens or shared kitchen facilities. This is the authoritative source — if a facility is not in this database with a current license, it cannot serve as your commissary.
• Call your local health department: COHD, APH, DCHHS, TCPH, Metro Health, and most county health departments will name approved commissary facilities over the phone. This is an underused shortcut — inspectors deal with new operators every week and often know exactly which commissaries have open slots. San Antonio Metro Health publishes a commissary list on sa.gov.
• The Kitchen Door (thekitchendoor.com): A national shared kitchen marketplace with strong Texas listings. Filter by city and "food truck friendly" — shows current availability for Houston, Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, and El Paso.
• Texas Food Truck Association and city-specific Facebook groups: "Texas Food Truck Operators," "Houston Food Truck Network," "Austin Food Truck Community" — these groups have active commissary threads where operators share leads, warn about facilities with problems, and sometimes post available slots.
• Ask other food truck operators at parks: At any food truck park in Houston, Austin, or Dallas, at least half the operators will tell you their commissary if you ask. Operators in the same market are often willing to share information about facilities they trust.
• Local shared kitchen incubators: PREP Kitchens (Houston, Austin, Dallas), Wingman Kitchens (Houston, Austin, SA), Capital Kitchens (Austin), Kitchen Factories (Austin), and several Houston-based culinary incubators are all TFER-licensed and commissary-capable.

Common Commissary Mistakes Texas Operators Make

These are the mistakes that result in permit denials, delays, and operator headaches across Texas every year:

Texas Commissary Kitchen FAQ

Official Resources — Verify Current Requirements

Related Texas Food Truck Guides

Ready to move beyond commissary basics? These city-specific guides cover the full permit process, fees, and inspection requirements for each major Texas market: