Cameron County Public Health - Environmental Health Program · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Cameron County food-facility health permits run about $150 annually. Confirm the exact amount with Cameron County Public Health - Environmental Health Program before you budget.
Confirm the authority for your exact address. Some cities run their own health division, and building, planning, fire, sewer/grease and business-license approvals are separate even when Cameron County Public Health - Environmental Health Program issues the health permit.
About 723 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 426,710. (U.S. Census 2023 estimate; County Business Patterns 2022, NAICS 722)
Last verified: 2026-08-17 — we re-confirmed the serving authority, its contact, and that the fees below match the current published schedule. Fee schedules may carry an earlier effective date (shown per fee); local ordinances & amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date? Report an update →
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Cameron County’s permit cost compares
At about $150/year, Cameron County’s restaurant health permit is below the Texas median ($258) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 66% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 13th-lowest of 247 Texas counties by permit cost.
Comparison uses the lowest published annual restaurant-permit figure in each county; confirm your exact tier with the department.
Local food-service market
About 723 food & drinking establishments serve ~426,710 residents in Cameron County — one per ~590 residents, sparser than the Texas average (one per ~566).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$150 annual health permit.
Plus building, fire, and business-license fees that vary locally — use the cost calculators and the checklist below to budget the full stack.
Watch out for
Handles both fixed establishments and mobile food units; office at 1390 W; Expressway 83, San Benito (956-247-3599 / 956-247-3685)
Non-compliance referred to local Justice of the Peace
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
Annual Food Service Permit (fixed establishment)
$150
Flat annual fee; no risk/gross-sales tiers or named categories (caterer/commissary/bakery/bar) published
Daycare Center Food Service Permit
$150
Temporary Food Service Permit - One Day
$25 per event
Temporary Food Service Permit - 2 to 14 Days
$50 per event
Temporary Food Service Permit - Approved Non-profit
$0.00
Equipment your Cameron County plan review will check
Health-department plan review looks for specific, code-compliant fixtures. Compare spec-filtered options, then confirm counts and sizes with your local requirements. See the full list in what equipment a commercial kitchen requires.
$150.00/year These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Cameron County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility.
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Cameron County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Texas moved mobile-food (mobile food unit/roadside vendor) permitting to state DSHS eff; 2026-07-01; verify current state fee/route with DSHS
Who issues food permits in Cameron County?
Food permits here are issued by Cameron County Public Health - Environmental Health Program. See the department site for current details.
Are city building and fire approvals separate?
Yes — building, plumbing, mechanical and fire approvals are always separate from the health permit and are often handled by different offices.
Published by Resultex Media Group LLC · Independent & vendor-neutral · Educational only, not legal or engineering advice · Last verified September 2026