How much more (or less) does the new DSHS license cost than the old MHFD permit?

The old MHFD permit was a flat $258/year. The new Texas DSHS MFV license is tiered by vendor type: $309 for Type I, $618 plus a $400 pre-licensing inspection ($1,018 total) for Type II, and $876 plus a $500 pre-licensing inspection ($1,376 total) for Type III. Most cooking trucks fall into Type III, so the new license costs more than the old flat city fee for most operators.

What happens if I already had a current Houston MHFD permit when the change took effect?

Existing licensed operators can keep operating during the transition if they submit the Texas DSHS MFV application, pay the required fees, and keep the DSHS application summary on the vehicle while the new license is processed.

Houston Food Truck Permit Changes for 2026-2027: The Texas DSHS Transition Explained

Q: Is my old Houston MHFD permit still valid?

No. The City of Houston Mobile Hot Food Dispensing (MHFD) permit and city medallions are no longer valid after June 2026. As of July 1, 2026, Texas DSHS issues the annual Mobile Food Vendor (MFV) license statewide under Chapter 226, and that is now the license Houston operators need.

Q: Does this change apply outside Houston too?

Yes. Texas DSHS Chapter 226 licensing is statewide, so any Texas city that previously ran its own local annual mobile food vendor permit is affected the same way Houston is — the state now issues the annual MFV license, while local inspection, fire, and commissary rules stay in place city by city.

Effective July 1, 2026

Texas DSHS now issues the annual Mobile Food Vendor (MFV) license statewide under Chapter 226. Houston's old City Mobile Hot Food Dispensing (MHFD) permit and medallions are no longer valid after June 2026. This page tracks exactly what changed. For the full current step-by-step permit process, see the complete Houston permit guide.

If you operated a food truck in Houston before July 2026, the permit you used to renew every year no longer exists in its old form. Texas DSHS took over annual mobile food vendor licensing statewide, replacing Houston's city-run MHFD permit. This is what changed, what stayed the same, and what to do about it — the first entry in a page we'll update every time Houston's food truck rules change.

Jul 1, 2026

Effective Date

$309–$1,376

New Annual Fee

Texas DSHS

Issuing Authority

3–8 Weeks

Approval Timeline

What Actually Changed

Before July 1, 2026, Houston mobile food vendors got their annual operating permit — the Mobile Hot Food Dispensing (MHFD) permit — directly from the City of Houston Health Department (COHD) for a flat $258/year. Texas had no statewide mobile food vendor law, so every city ran its own system.

That changed on July 1, 2026. Texas DSHS now issues a statewide Mobile Food Vendor (MFV) license under Chapter 226. Houston's old MHFD permits and medallions stopped being valid after June 2026. Operators now apply to the state, not the city, for their annual license — and the fee structure changed from one flat rate to three tiers based on vendor type.

Old vs. New: Side-by-Side Comparison

	Before July 1, 2026	After July 1, 2026
License name	Mobile Hot Food Dispensing (MHFD) Permit	Texas DSHS Mobile Food Vendor (MFV) License
Issuing authority	City of Houston Health Department (COHD)	Texas DSHS (statewide, Chapter 226)
Annual fee	$258/year flat	Type I $309; Type II $1,018; Type III $1,376
Approval timeline	6-8 weeks	3-8 weeks (faster for existing operators)
Local inspection	COHD inspection	Still required, now feeds the DSHS pre-licensing step
Commissary/CPF requirement	Required	Still required — unchanged

What Did NOT Change

It's easy to assume a licensing-authority change means everything is different. It doesn't. Only the annual license itself moved from the city to the state. These requirements are exactly the same as before:

Commissary / Central Preparation Facility (CPF) agreement — still mandatory for prep, cleaning, potable water, and wastewater service.
Houston Fire Department inspection — still required for propane/cooking equipment, fire suppression, and hood/vent systems.
Harris County rules — operators outside Houston city limits still deal with Harris County Public Health for local matters.
Texas food handler certification and sales tax registration — unchanged.
Parking and event rules — unchanged; the state license is not a zoning or access permit.

What Houston Operators Need to Do Now

Confirm your old MHFD permit's expiration — it is not valid past June 2026 regardless of the date printed on it.
Submit your Texas DSHS Mobile Food Vendor application and identify your tier (most cooking trucks are Type III).
Pay the DSHS application fee and, for Type II/III, the pre-licensing inspection fee.
If you're mid-transition with a current local license, keep your DSHS application summary on the vehicle so you can keep operating while the new license processes.
Keep your commissary/CPF agreement and Houston Fire Department inspection current — neither of those went away.

🏛️ Official Resources — Verify Current Requirements

Houston Health Department Mobile Food Units — July 2026 DSHS transition, local inspection, CPF, and fire links
Houston Fire Department — Ansul suppression system requirements and fire inspection
Texas Comptroller — Sales Tax Permit — required before you start selling

FAQ: The Transition

Is my old Houston MHFD permit still valid?

No. The City of Houston MHFD permit and city medallions are no longer valid after June 2026. As of July 1, 2026, Texas DSHS issues the annual Mobile Food Vendor (MFV) license statewide under Chapter 226, and that is now the license Houston operators need.

How much more (or less) does the new DSHS license cost?

The old MHFD permit was a flat $258/year. The new Texas DSHS MFV license is tiered: $309 for Type I, $1,018 total for Type II, and $1,376 total for Type III. Most cooking trucks are Type III, so the new license costs more than the old flat city fee for most operators.

Do I still need a Houston commissary or CPF arrangement?

Yes. The July 2026 change only moved annual licensing authority from the city to the state. It did not remove the Central Preparation Facility (CPF)/commissary requirement, Houston Fire Department inspection, or local parking and operating rules.

What happens if I already had a current permit when this took effect?

You can keep operating during the transition if you submit the DSHS application, pay the required fees, and keep the DSHS application summary on the vehicle while the new license is processed.

Does this change apply outside Houston too?

Yes. DSHS Chapter 226 licensing is statewide, so any Texas city that previously ran its own local annual mobile food vendor permit is affected the same way — the state now issues the annual MFV license, while local inspection, fire, and commissary rules stay in place city by city.

Need the complete, current step-by-step process — not just what changed?

Read the Full Houston Permit Guide →

Ready to handle Houston's new DSHS process without the guesswork?

StreetLegal tracks permit requirements, renewal deadlines, and compliance for food truck operators across Texas.

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Houston Food Truck Permit Changes for 2026-2027: The Texas DSHS Transition Explained

What Actually Changed

Old vs. New: Side-by-Side Comparison

What Did NOT Change

What Houston Operators Need to Do Now

FAQ: The Transition

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