Mobile Food Vending

A Mobile Vending Permit is required for your vehicle when selling food from a food truck, trailer, pushcart, or as a foot peddler. House Bill 2844 will be going into effect on July 1, 2026.

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

Time and temperature control for safety food (TCS)
TCS foods require time and temperature control for safety to limit pathogen growth or toxin production.

Unpackaged, Non-TCS Foods

License Fee: $100

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, TCS Foods

License Fee: $200

Pushcart

  • Overhead protection
  • Commissary Letter

Vehicle/Trailer

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

Openly Handled TCS Foods

License Fee: $258

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 TCS foods 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, 136KB)

Operating a Mobile Vending Unit

  • All food must come from an approved source and be properly labeled
  • All TCS food 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
  • 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, 259KB)

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