In short
- The DSHS pre-licensing inspection checks the vehicle, water and wastewater, sinks, equipment, commissary or servicing area, and paperwork. The DSHS inspection checklist has 28 numbered items.
- The truck must travel to the inspection and work with no electrical or water hookups, including handwashing, refrigeration and wastewater disposal.
- A new truck is almost certainly Category Two: no selling until the inspection is completed.
- Below: pick your type and category, tick items, print. Ticks stay in your browser.
This Texas food truck inspection checklist turns the DSHS mobile food vendor requirements into a self-check you can walk through with a flashlight. It follows our summary of the DSHS Mobile Food Vendor Guide (checked 25 October 2026) and is not an official DSHS form. Fix every item you cannot tick before you pay the inspection fee. Fees are on the license fee calculator.
What the inspector expects at the door
| Area | What the DSHS Guide says |
|---|---|
| Mobility | Readily moveable and able to travel to a designated location |
| Power and water | Operable without electrical or water connections |
| Wastewater tank | 15% larger than the potable tank |
| Cold / hot holding | 41°F or below / 135°F or above |
| Screens | At least 16 mesh to the inch |
Do not rely on a hookup at the inspection site. The Guide says the vehicle must work without electrical or water connections. Test handwashing, refrigeration and wastewater disposal unplugged before you book.
Commissary, servicing area and who decides
- Ask whether you need a commissary
The DSHS checklist asks for a licensed commissary (CPF) "if required", or for every condition of the exemption checklist to be met. We do not decide this for you.
- Line up the servicing area
Item 9 of the DSHS checklist covers a servicing area for water, cleaning and sewage discharge.
- Collect the letters and logs
CPF or servicing area authorization, the latest facility inspection, and logs where the Guide lists them for your type.
- Ask your city what still applies
The Guide says state law preempts local power to prohibit or regulate mobile food vendors, yet city pages still mention fire inspections and vending zones. Ask your city in writing which law it relies on.
Saves a re-inspection: the Guide does not publish a re-inspection fee, so ask DSHS what a failed inspection costs, then fix every unticked item first. Questions go to [email protected].
Next steps
Fees due up front are in the Texas mobile food vendor license fee calculator. The other registrations (sales tax permit, assumed name, insurance) are in the Texas food truck permits checklist. To check your numbers, use the food truck break-even calculator.
Sources, checked 2026-10-25: DSHS Mobile Food Vendors page; DSHS Mobile Food Vendor Guide (PDF, 2026); local agencies helping conduct inspections; certified food manager programs; food handler programs.
Informational self-check, not an official DSHS form. Requirements vary by operation type. TX Openings is not DSHS and gives no legal advice. Read the Guide and confirm with DSHS or your local authority before your inspection.
Frequently asked questions
Does the truck need hookups at the inspection?
No, and it must not rely on them. Per the DSHS Mobile Food Vendor Guide, the vehicle must be readily moveable, able to travel to a designated location, and operable at the time of inspection without electrical or water connections, including handwashing and warewashing facilities, refrigeration and wastewater disposal.
Do I need a commissary for a Texas food truck?
It depends. The DSHS inspection checklist asks for a licensed commissary (central preparation facility) operated to the rules if one is required, with its latest inspection available, or for all conditions of the CPF/Commissary Exemption Checklist to be met if you are exempt. Ask DSHS whether your operation needs one.
What should I bring to the pre-licensing inspection?
Per the DSHS Guide: driver's license or CDL, menu, employee health policy, food allergen poster, proof of insurance and TxDOT information, and an itinerary. Depending on your type of operation, also food manager and food handler certifications and commissary or servicing area documentation.
Is this the official DSHS inspection form?
No. DSHS uses its own Food Vending Vehicle Inspection Checklist with 28 numbered items. This page is an informational self-check built from a summary of the DSHS Guide. Read the Guide itself and confirm with DSHS or your inspecting agency.
Do city rules still apply to my truck?
The DSHS Guide says Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 437B preempts a local authority's power to prohibit or regulate mobile food vendors. Some city pages still discuss fire inspections, vending districts and parks. We are not lawyers: ask your city in writing what it still requires and under which law.
Where do my ticks get saved?
In this browser only, on your device. Nothing is sent to us. Clearing site data or switching browsers resets the list.