Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Retail Food Program - Region 8 (areas with no local ordinance); City of New Braunfels Health & Food Safety administers permits within New Braunfels city limits · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Comal County food-facility health permits run about $258–$773 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Confirm the exact amount with Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Retail Food Program - Region 8 (areas with no local ordinance); City of New Braunfels Health & Food Safety administers permits within New Braunfels city limits 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 Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Retail Food Program - Region 8 (areas with no local ordinance); City of New Braunfels Health & Food Safety administers permits within New Braunfels city limits issues the health permit.
About 382 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 193,928. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 →
Restaurant / food-facility permit
Retail Food Establishment Permit (DSHS)
$258 (gross annual food sales $0-$49,999.99)
$515 ($50,000-$149,999.99)
$773 ($150,000+)
DSHS tiered fee applies in areas without a local ordinance; The City of New Braunfels issues its own food establishment permits via nbpermits.nbtexas.org; New Braunfels does not publish its fee schedule online (contact (830) 221-4031 ext; 5)
Plan review — required
DSHS does not charge a separate plan-review fee
plan review is required for new/remodeled establishments under Texas Food Establishment Rules (25 TAC 228)
Texas (TFER) demerit-based inspection: score = 100 minus demerits, fail above 30 demerits; administered by the local health authority, reports public.
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile Food Unit (DSHS)
$258
DSHS mobile food unit permit fee; Beginning July 1, 2026, all Texas mobile food vendors must obtain a state license from DSHS (SB 1008 / HB 2844), replacing local mobile permits
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Comal County’s permit cost compares
At about $258/year, Comal County’s restaurant health permit is about the Texas median ($258) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 91% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 56th-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 382 food & drinking establishments serve ~193,928 residents in Comal County — one per ~508 residents, denser than the Texas average (one per ~566).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$258 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
Split jurisdiction: DSHS for unincorporated/no-ordinance areas; City of New Braunfels self-permits within city limits (adopts 25 TAC 228 by reference)
DSHS fees are set statewide by gross annual food sales volume
Statewide mobile food unit permitting moves to DSHS effective July 1, 2026
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
Temporary / seasonal event
$52 single-event permit (one booth, up to 14 consecutive days); $200 multiple-event permit (2 years)
Texas DSHS temporary food establishment fees (areas with no local ordinance)
Pushcart / mobile vending
$258 (DSHS mobile food unit)
Statewide DSHS mobile license required from July 1, 2026
Equipment your Comal 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.
$258 (gross annual food sales $0-$49,999.99); $515 ($50,000-$149,999.99); $773 ($150,000+) These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Comal County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: DSHS does not charge a separate plan-review fee; plan review is required for new/remodeled establishments under Texas Food Establishment Rules (25 TAC 228)
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Comal County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. DSHS mobile food unit permit fee; Beginning July 1, 2026, all Texas mobile food vendors must obtain a state license from DSHS (SB 1008 / HB 2844), replacing local mobile permits
Who issues food permits in Comal County?
Food permits here are issued by Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Retail Food Program - Region 8 (areas with no local ordinance); City of New Braunfels Health & Food Safety administers permits within New Braunfels city limits. 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