City Commissary rules · Texas
Houston commissary requirements for food trucks and carts
The short answer from Houston Health Department, Consumer Health, 832-393-5100: Yes, operate from an approved commissary (central preparation facility).
- Commissary needed?
- Yes, operate from an approved commissary (central preparation facility). Houston publishes approved commissaries and 16 approved servicing areas.
- How often
- Texas DSHS requires a servicing log showing when the vehicle took on water and disposed of waste. Inside city limits, water and wastewater servicing may only happen at an approved, permitted servicing area.
- Paperwork
- Commissary/servicing letter per DSHS; to use a commissary not on Houston's list, call 832-393-5100 to schedule a pre-opening inspection.
Confirm with Houston Health Department. This page summarises the official documents listed under Sources. Official page
Other things to know
- As of May 15, 2026, Houston stopped accepting mobile food unit plan reviews; from July 1, 2026 permitting moved to Texas DSHS under HB 2844.
- Within city limits, a servicing area may provide liquid waste disposal and potable water only if approved and permitted for it.
- Houston's list codes what each commissary offers: packaged food sales, food prep, kitchen leasing, servicing only, cooler/freezer and dry storage.
These local rules sit on top of the Texas (statewide) rules.
18 kitchens covered by these rules
- 7503 Hillsboro St, Houston, TX 77020Food truck commissarySells packaged foods to operators2 cleaning bays
- 525 Crenshaw Rd., Pasadena, TX 77504Food truck commissaryPrepares foods for operators6 cleaning bays
- 3811 Des Chaumes, Houston, TX 77026Food truck commissarySells packaged foods to operators2 cleaning bays
- 6405 Brittmore, Houston, TX 77041Food truck commissaryServicing only (water / waste)Servicing of units only; Harris County jurisdiction2 cleaning bays
- 5407 Willomine Way, Houston, TX 77045Food truck commissaryRentable prep kitchenSells packaged foods to operators; leases kitchen to operators; cooler/freezer and dry storage space7 cleaning baysCold storageDry storage
- 10602 Bauman, Houston, TX 77076Food truck commissarySells packaged foods to operators6 cleaning bays
- 6345 Skyline Dr. Bldg. A, Houston, TX 77057Food truck commissarySells packaged foods to operators7 cleaning bays
- 5739 Dwinnell, Houston, TX 77023Food truck commissarySells packaged foods to operators2 cleaning bays
- 1735 Pasadena, Houston, TX 77023Food truck commissaryStorageOwner units only; sells packaged foods and prepares foods for operators; cooler/freezer and dry storage space1 cleaning bayCold storageDry storage
- 11806 N. Houston Rosslyn, Houston, TX 77086Food truck commissaryServicing only (water / waste)Servicing of units only; Harris County jurisdiction2 cleaning bays
- 2824 Crane, Houston, TX 77026Food truck commissarySells packaged foods to operators7 cleaning bays
- 8331 Beechnut, Houston, TX 77036Food truck commissarySells packaged foods to operators5 cleaning bays
See all 18 kitchens in Texas →
Questions people ask
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Houston?
Yes, operate from an approved commissary (central preparation facility). Houston publishes approved commissaries and 16 approved servicing areas.
How often do I have to go to the commissary?
Texas DSHS requires a servicing log showing when the vehicle took on water and disposed of waste. Inside city limits, water and wastewater servicing may only happen at an approved, permitted servicing area.
What paperwork does Houston want?
Commissary/servicing letter per DSHS; to use a commissary not on Houston's list, call 832-393-5100 to schedule a pre-opening inspection.
Where do I find a commissary in Houston?
We list 18 kitchens covered by these rules, below. They come from the official Mobile Food Unit Approved Commissaries.
Sources
Last checked September 29, 2026.