Texas Dept. of State Health Services (DSHS), Retail Food Establishments program (state jurisdiction). Ellis County has no county food-permit program; some cities (e.g., Waxahachie) administer temporary-event permits locally through their Building/Community Services departments. · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Ellis County food-facility health permits run about $125–$773 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Confirm the exact amount with Texas Dept. of State Health Services (DSHS), Retail Food Establishments program (state jurisdiction). Ellis County has no county food-permit program; some cities (e.g., Waxahachie) administer temporary-event permits locally through their Building/Community Services departments. 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 Dept. of State Health Services (DSHS), Retail Food Establishments program (state jurisdiction). Ellis County has no county food-permit program; some cities (e.g., Waxahachie) administer temporary-event permits locally through their Building/Community Services departments. issues the health permit.
About 315 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 222,829. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 →
DSHS state-jurisdiction fee, uniform statewide; Fees apply to initial applications, renewals, and change of ownership; Inspection-only application (schools/non-profits) $150 per inspection; Re-verified 2026-08-10 against the DSHS retail food permits fee page
Plan review — required
DSHS reviews construction/remodel plans as part of the new-establishment permitting process and does not publish a separate stand-alone plan-review fee
Texas (TFER) demerit-based inspection: score = 100 minus demerits, fail above 30 demerits; administered by the local/DSHS health authority, reports public.
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile Food Vendor (MFV) License - DSHS statewide (effective July 1, 2026)
Type I $309 (no pre-licensing inspection)
Type II $618 + $400 pre-licensing inspection
Type III $876 + $500 pre-licensing inspection
Routine inspection: Type II $400, Type III $500. Complaint/compliance inspection: Type I $300, Type II $400, Type III $500
As of July 1, 2026 all Texas mobile food units are licensed by DSHS under the statewide MFV system (HB 2844); Prior DSHS mobile permit was $258/unit; Fees re-verified 2026-08-10 against the DSHS Mobile Food Vendors page (application fee + pre-licensing fee both due at submission; application fees include a Texas Online fee)
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Ellis County’s permit cost compares
At about $125/year, Ellis County’s restaurant health permit is below the Texas median ($258) and about the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 57% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 9th-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 315 food & drinking establishments serve ~222,829 residents in Ellis County — one per ~707 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 ~$125 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
Fully DSHS state-administered; no Ellis County health department food program
City of Waxahachie handles temporary food establishment permits locally (Building & Community Services, 408 S; Rogers); apply at least 5 days before the event
DSHS fees are keyed to gross annual food sales volume
Statewide mobile food vendor licensing moved to DSHS on July 1, 2026
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
Temporary / seasonal event
Single-event permit $52 (one booth, one event, max 14 consecutive days); Multiple-event permit $200 (one booth, multiple events over 2 years)
DSHS state schedule; apply at least 30 days ahead; City of Waxahachie administers temporary permits locally (apply 5 days ahead; fee not published)
Pushcart / mobile vending
MFV Type I $309; Type II $618 + $400 pre-licensing inspection; Type III $876 + $500 pre-licensing inspection
New statewide DSHS Mobile Food Vendor licensing effective July 1, 2026 (HB 2844)
Equipment your Ellis 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.
Tiered by gross annual food sales; $258 ($0-$49,999.99), $515 ($50,000-$149,999.99), $773 ($150,000+); Amendment fees $125 / $250 / $375 These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Ellis County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: DSHS reviews construction/remodel plans as part of the new-establishment permitting process and does not publish a separate stand-alone plan-review fee
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Ellis County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. As of July 1, 2026 all Texas mobile food units are licensed by DSHS under the statewide MFV system (HB 2844); Prior DSHS mobile permit was $258/unit; Fees re-verified 2026-08-10 against the DSHS Mobile Food Vendors page (application fee + pre-licensing fee both due at submission; application fees include a Texas Online fee)
Who issues food permits in Ellis County?
Food permits here are issued by Texas Dept. of State Health Services (DSHS), Retail Food Establishments program (state jurisdiction). Ellis County has no county food-permit program; some cities (e.g., Waxahachie) administer temporary-event permits locally through their Building/Community Services departments.. 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