Mobile Food Vending

A Mobile Vending License is required for your vehicle when selling food from a food truck, trailer, pushcart, or as a foot peddler.

To begin the process, you will need to pass an inspection.

  • Mobile Vending inspections are done on Tuesdays and Thursdays by appointment.
  • Call 210-207-0135 make an appointment.

Background Checks

Background checks are only required for food vendors selling frozen or refrigerated confections. This includes:

  • Frozen ice cream novelties
  • Ice cream cones
  • Paletas directly to consumers on a public street, sidewalk, or right of way
  • Raspas

Background checks are required for owners and employees working or riding on the unit. To begin the process visit our the police station.

Address:
315 S. Santa Rosa Ave.
San Antonio, TX 78207
Directions

State and Federal background checks are completed off site. San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) will advise and monitor.

NOTE: Approved Downtown vendors may require an annual letter from SAPD.

Requirements for Selling Food

Pre-Packaged or Unpackaged, Non-Hazardous Food

License Fee: $103

Foot Peddler

Must have ice chest or sell from your person and no potentially hazardous foods.

Pushcart

  • Overhead protection
  • Gravity fed hand wash station for unpackaged, non-potentially hazardous food handling

Vehicle/Trailer

  • All food service/storage areas must be smooth, easily cleanable and non-absorbent
  • Gravity fed hand wash station for unpackaged, non-potentially hazardous food handling

Pre-Packaged Potentially Hazardous Food

License Fee: $206

Pushcart

  • Overhead protection
  • Commissary Letter

Vehicle/Trailer

  • All food service/storage areas must be smooth, easily cleanable and non-absorbent
  • Commissary Letter

Openly Handled Potentially Hazardous Food

License Fee: $309

Pushcart

  • Overhead protection
  • Two compartment sink
  • Separate hand sink
  • A water heater of no less than 6 gallons or instantaneous water heater capable of producing 110°F water during the entire time of operation
  • Adequate amount of fresh water
  • Waste tank must be 15% larger than freshwater tank
  • Commissary Letter

Vehicle/Trailer

  • All food handling and vending must be done from the vehicle
  • Food service/storage area must be smooth, easily cleanable and non-absorbent
  • Screened windows and doors
  • Three compartment sink (must be large enough to submerge the largest piece of equipment)
    • Faucet must reach all compartments
    • Hot and cold water under pressure
  • A water heater of no less than 6 gallons or instantaneous water heater capable of producing 110°F water during the entire time of operation
  • Adequate amount of fresh water
  • Waste tank must be 15% larger than freshwater tank
  • Commissary Letter

Water Sampling

All units vending handle potentially hazardous food from a pushcart, vehicle or trailer equipped with fresh/wastewater holding tanks must:

Chlorine Residual and Tank Sanitation Log Sheet(PDF, 260KB)

Water Laboratory Services

Phone: 210-207-8887

Address:
2303 SE Military Dr., Building 533
San Antonio, TX 78236
Directions

Commissary or Service Area Usage

  • Must report to the commissary or servicing area not less than once per calendar week for all cleaning and servicing operations
  • Must keep a date/time log(PDF, 204KB) from commissary on the unit
  • Refill fresh water
  • Dump waste water
  • Grease/oil disposal
  • Cleaning (sweeping and mopping) of unit
  • Supply storage

Commissary List(PDF, 479KB)

Operating a Mobile Vending Unit

  • All food must come from an approved source and be properly labeled
  • All potentially hazardous foods must be kept at proper temperatures
  • Mobile food establishments may be stopped in a public street, or right-of-way, provided:
    • 50 feet away from an intersection
    • Not prohibited to the standing or parking of vehicles
    • All items are vended from the curbside or rear of the vehicle
  • Mobile food establishments may park on commercial property:
    • Must have written notarized permission from property owner
    • Property must have flush type toilet facilities that are connected to an approved sewage system and available
    • Parked on paved surface and clean surroundings
  • Must be 300 feet from property line of any school 1 hour before, during or 1 hour after school
  • Vending in a residential area is allowed:
    • June, July and August: 7 a.m. - 9 p.m.
    • September through May: 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.
  • No tables, chairs or awnings or other seating or eating area shall be around the mobile unit
  • If a mobile vending unit is operating with a propane tank, generator, or gas/charcoal/wood burning grill a fire inspection is required. Contact the San Antonio Fire Department at 210-207-8410 to schedule a fire inspection.

Location Requirements 

Downtown Business District

Vendors wishing to operate in the “Downtown Business District” must obtain a special permit issued by the Center City Development & Operations Department.

Phone: 210-207-3677

The definition of the district from the Unified Development Code: "Downtown Business District" shall include the area described as follows: Start at the intersection of Salado and El Paso Streets; north on Salado/Haven for Hope Way to its intersection with Frio Street; thence northeast in a straight line to the intersection of IH-10 and Cadwallader; south on IH-10 to IH-35; northeast on IH-35 to a perpendicular point connecting with Cherry Street; south on Cherry Street to César E. Chávez Boulevard; west on César E. Chávez Boulevard to the San Antonio River; south along the San Antonio River to Arsenal Street; west on Arsenal to El Paso Street; and then west on El Paso to Salado.

City Parks

Vendors interested in operating at any City park must obtain permission from the Parks and Recreation Department.

Phone: 210-207-8480

Special Events

If a mobile vending unit is operating at a special event, the unit may be exempt from certain requirements. Please see the City of San Antonio Ordinance Chapter 13 for exemptions.

Related Links

Mobile Food Vending(PDF, 200KB)

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