Texas Food Truck Licensing Changes Are Here

Apply for your new State Issued Licenses BEFORE July 1, 2026

The following information is intended for Mobile Food Vendors (MFV) that are already licensed by Austin Public Health AND whose primary vending location resides in the City of Austin or Travis County.
While Step 1 & Step 2 below still applies for other Jurisdictions (Williamson County, Bastrop County, Dripping Springs, etc.), Step 3 depends entirely on the primary vending location.

To align with the new statewide Mobile Food Vendor (MFV) licensing program, GhostLine Kitchens is changing its contract terminology from Central Preparation Facility (CPF) Contract to Servicing Area Authorization (SAA) Contract. This change reflects the way the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is distinguishing between a Central Preparation Facility (required for Type I MFVs), which is designated as the location where food is prepared, stored, handled, or otherwise processed, versus what is now referred to as a Servicing Area — a licensed facility (required for Type II and III MFVs) that provides support services such as potable water access, wastewater disposal, grease disposal, and Mobile Food Vendor (MFV) servicing activities. The majority of GhostLine Kitchens’ CPF contract holders use our facility primarily for servicing purposes, and the new Servicing Area Authorization (SAA) Contract reflects the services provided. The Servicing Area Authorization (SAA) Contract document that our current and active customers will receive provides authorization to utilize GhostLine Kitchens as an approved servicing area and must be maintained as part of your DSHS licensing and inspection records.

Step 1
Application

Submit your DSHS application and pay the required licensing fees to DSHS through this link here before July 1, 2026. Register with DSHS as a new user if you don’t already have an account.

NOTE: The Central Preparation Facility (CPF) section of the DSHS application is optional and is not required for all Mobile Food Vendors (MFVs). Remember, Type II and III MFVs are now operating with a Servicing Area Authorization (SAA) Contract and NOT with a Central Preparation Facility (CPF) Contract. If you choose to include GhostLine Kitchens in the CPF section of your application, you may do so; however, DSHS has not yet provided guidance on whether listing a Servicing Area in the CPF section has any impact on the application review process for Mobile Food Vendors that are only required to have a Servicing Area.

For Type II and Type III Mobile Food Vendors that choose to include GhostLine Kitchens in the CPF section of the DSHS application and have a current and active SAA Contract (formerly CPF) with GhostLine Kitchens, you may obtain the relevant information for our facility by clicking here.

Helpful Resources:
DSHS - Mobile Food Vendor Guide (link)
DSHS - How to Submit a Mobile Food Vendor Application (link)

step 2
Continue Operations

You may continue operating under your current permit if you submit your DSHS Mobile Food Vendor application and pay the required fees to DSHS before July 1, 2026.

Keep a printed copy of your pending state application and payment receipt in your Food Vending Vehicle (FVV). Once DSHS processes your application, they will send you a letter with instructions for scheduling your pre-licensing inspection. You may continue operating while awaiting your pre-licensing inspection.

Continue utilizing GhostLine Kitchens as your Servicing Area during this transition period, you must continue documenting each visit by completing the Servicing Area Activity Log (link). A separate log entry is required for each visit and should accurately reflect the servicing activities performed, including potable water replenishment, wastewater disposal, grease disposal, and any other applicable servicing activities.

NOTE: The transition period only applies to operators who submit their application and pay the required fees to DSHS BEFORE July 1, 2026. If you apply ON or AFTER July 1, 2026, you must wait until your pre-licensing inspection is completed and your state license is issued before operating under the new DSHS licensing program.

step 3
Pre-License Inspection

Once you receive your letter from DSHS, you will contact the Austin Public Health (APH) Environmental Health Services Division (EHSD) to schedule your pre-licensing inspection. The scheduling process remains largely unchanged, with inspections typically conducted on Tuesdays and Thursdays on a first-come, first-served basis.

At that time, you will need to request your new Servicing Area Authorization (SAA) Contract from GhostLine Kitchens. To receive your Servicing Area Authorization (SAA) Contract, you will be asked to provide proof that your pre-licensing inspection has been scheduled with the Austin Public Health (APH) Environmental Health Services Division (EHSD). When you are ready to request your Servicing Area Authorization (SAA) Contract, you may do so using the link below.You will also be given the opportunity to request your Servicing Area Activity Log if you’ve been logging your visits.

Refer to the DSHS - Mobile Food Vendor Guide (link) to review everything else that needs to be completed before and included during your pre-licensing inspection.

NOTE: Although the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) now issues Mobile Food Vendor (MFV) licenses, the Austin Public Health (APH) Environmental Health Services Division (EHSD) will continue performing inspections on behalf of the State through an Interlocal Agreement. This means many operators will continue working with the same local inspectors and processes they are already familiar with. The agreement is currently scheduled to remain in effect for 13 months (effective July 1, 2026), helping provide continuity during the transition to the new statewide licensing program.

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