Hays County Development Services (local health permitting for unincorporated Hays County and the cities of Buda, Kyle, and Wimberley) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Hays County food-facility health permits run about $250–$650 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $125–$325. Confirm the exact amount with Hays County Development Services (local health permitting for unincorporated Hays County and the cities of Buda, Kyle, and Wimberley) 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 Hays County Development Services (local health permitting for unincorporated Hays County and the cities of Buda, Kyle, and Wimberley) issues the health permit.
About 509 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 280,486. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 →
County-issued (not DSHS) for fixed establishments; fee tier is by gross annual volume of food sales (Affidavit of Volume required); Permit expires Dec 31. Amendments (name/ownership/floorplan change) $125/$225/$325 by same sales tier
Plan review — required
plan review is required but is not itemized as a standalone line in the 2026 Development Services fee schedule (review is handled through the online application/amendment process, $125-$325)
confirm with Hays County Development Services 512-393-2150
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 Units & Roadside Food Vendors
$258 per unit (2026)
Texas is moving mobile-food-unit permitting to a single state DSHS statewide license effective July 1, 2026; local mobile permits expire June 30, 2026. Commissary/base of operations required
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Hays County’s permit cost compares
At about $250/year, Hays County’s restaurant health permit is below the Texas median ($258) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 82% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 15th-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 509 food & drinking establishments serve ~280,486 residents in Hays County — one per ~551 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 ~$250 annual health permit + $125 plan review.
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
Restaurant/grocery/bakery/bar/caterer all fall under one 'Retail Food Establishment & Food Store' permit priced by gross annual food sales
Mobile-unit permitting transitions to state DSHS statewide licensing on July 1, 2026 (local permits expire June 30, 2026)
Applications are online only via MGOConnect (MyGovernmentOnline); paper not accepted
Temporary event permit $52 (single event, expires 14 days after issuance); Farmers Market individual vendor $100/yr
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
Temporary / seasonal event
$52 (single event; expires 14 calendar days after issuance) (2026)
Farmers Market individual vendor permit is separate at $100/yr; yard egg producer $50/yr
Pushcart / mobile vending
$258 per unit (2026)
Mobile Food Units & Roadside Food Vendors; amendment fee $125. Transitions to state DSHS statewide license July 1, 2026 (local permits expire June 30, 2026)
Equipment your Hays 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.
$250 ($0-$49,999.99 gross annual food sales) / $450 ($50,000-$149,999.99) / $650 ($150,000+) for 2026 These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Hays County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: plan review is required but is not itemized as a standalone line in the 2026 Development Services fee schedule (review is handled through the online application/amendment process, $125-$325); confirm with Hays County Development Services 512-393-2150
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Hays County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Texas is moving mobile-food-unit permitting to a single state DSHS statewide license effective July 1, 2026; local mobile permits expire June 30, 2026. Commissary/base of operations required
Who issues food permits in Hays County?
Food permits here are issued by Hays County Development Services (local health permitting for unincorporated Hays County and the cities of Buda, Kyle, and Wimberley). 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