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:
- Show proof of a clean water sample test from an accredited lab taken within 30 days of licensing inspection.
- Check chlorination of its water supply weekly and maintain records on unit
- Sanitize water tanks monthly(PDF, 296KB) and maintain records on unit
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.