Food Truck Permits – Update Due to HB 2844

House Bill 2844 changed how mobile food vendors are regulated in Texas. Because of this new state law, the City of Gainesville no longer issues local food truck permits. Vendors must now follow the state’s requirements directly and ensure they have:

• A valid Texas Mobile Food Unit (MFU) permit through the Texas Department of State Health Services
• All required Food Handler/Food Manager Certifications
• Property owner permission to operate at the chosen site, which must be in C-3 or Industrial Zoning (see Zoning Map (PDF))
• Compliance with all state food-handling and safety regulations

If you operate a mobile food unit, please make sure your state-issued permits are current before doing business within city limits. For questions, contact Code Compliance or the contact Texas Department of State Health Services.

DSHS Resources: 

HB 2844 Overview

Itinerant Vendor Registration Requirements

The City of Gainesville ordinance requires all itinerant vendors—including peddlers, solicitors, itinerant merchants, applicants and their agents, servants, employees and representatives as any of those terms are defined herein—to register with the City (Ordinance No. 473-5-91).

Those interested in operating a food truck or conducting sales at the Farmers Market, or a combination of both should view the Farmers Market webpage.

Application Process & Requirements

For your convenience, the City of Gainesville has provided a checklist with the application available below.

1. License Requirement
   • Every person desiring to conduct sales activity in the City as an itinerant vendor shall have a license issued by the City Secretary. It is unlawful for an itinerant vendor to conduct sales activity in the City without a license.
2. Application Submission
   • Every person desiring a license to conduct sales activity in the City as an itinerant vendor shall make a written application to the City Secretary.
3. Application Review
   • Upon submission, the City Secretary shall deliver the application to the Chief of Police, who shall investigate and verify the correctness of the application and report his findings to the City Secretary by 5:00 p.m. the second business day.
4. License Validity & Renewal
   • A license granted under this article shall be valid for 180 days but may be renewed once for 180 days, if made within the initial 180 day period of the original licenses. Each applicant or representative for renewal must verify permit information as correct and file copies of sales tax returned for the prior license period.
5. Fees
   • Door-to-Door: $150.00 (non-refundable)
6. Permit Approval
   • Once the Chief of Police completes the investigation, the City Secretary issues the permit, unless a violation is found.

PDF Format - Application for Itinerate Vendor, Farmers Market Vendor - 1 Year (PDF)