Hidalgo County Health & Human Services Department - Environmental Health Division (McAllen/Edinburg area) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Hidalgo County food-facility health permits run about $100–$250 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $100. Confirm the exact amount with Hidalgo County Health & Human Services Department - Environmental Health Division (McAllen/Edinburg area) 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 Hidalgo County Health & Human Services Department - Environmental Health Division (McAllen/Edinburg area) issues the health permit.
About 1,184 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 898,471. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 →
Updated fee schedule approved by Commissioners Court Dec 10, 2025, effective Feb 9, 2026. Uses employee-count tiers (amounts sit below DSHS SB 1008 caps); Standard inspection $100; re-inspection $100; late fee $50; amendment $100; permit replacement $25; temporary food $25 (standard) / $50 (late/on-site); Applies in unincorporated areas and cities without their own health program; McAllen city establishments may fall under the city
Plan review — required
a distinct plan-review fee is not itemized on the published fee schedule
new establishments go through a plan-review step in the 6-stage approval process, with a $100 inspection fee applied
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 Permit (county through June 30, 2026; DSHS from July 1, 2026)
County Mobile Food Unit $200 (fee schedule eff
Feb 9, 2026)
From July 1, 2026 mobile food vendors are licensed statewide by Texas DSHS (Type I $309
Type II $618 + $400 inspection
Type III $876 + $500 inspection)
Effective July 1, 2026 Texas moved mobile-food permitting to DSHS under HB 2844. Separate Mobile Food Vendor application packets (English/Spanish) available from the county
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Hidalgo County’s permit cost compares
At about $100/year, Hidalgo County’s restaurant health permit is below the Texas median ($258) and below the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 45% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 6th-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 1,184 food & drinking establishments serve ~898,471 residents in Hidalgo County — one per ~759 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 ~$100 annual health permit + $100 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
Fee schedule refreshed effective Feb 9, 2026 (approved Dec 10, 2025); Environmental Health Division at 1304 S; 25th Ave., Edinburg, TX 78539/78542, 956-383-0111
Retains an employee-count fee structure rather than DSHS gross-annual-sales tiers, kept under the state caps
Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction
Category
Annual fee
Notes
roadside food vendor
$100/yr
HCHD Food Establishment Fee Schedule effective Feb 9, 2026
educational institution / school
$200/yr
Includes two (2) inspections per year
temporary/special-event food establishment
$25 (application) / $50 (late or on-site)
Single event; operates no more than three (3) consecutive days
Equipment your Hidalgo 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.
Food Establishment 1-10 employees $200; 11-20 employees $225; 20+ employees $250. Roadside Food Vendor $100; Educational Institution/School (incl; two inspections/yr) $200 These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Hidalgo County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: a distinct plan-review fee is not itemized on the published fee schedule; new establishments go through a plan-review step in the 6-stage approval process, with a $100 inspection fee applied; Not found as a standalone line item
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Hidalgo County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Effective July 1, 2026 Texas moved mobile-food permitting to DSHS under HB 2844. Separate Mobile Food Vendor application packets (English/Spanish) available from the county
Who issues food permits in Hidalgo County?
Food permits here are issued by Hidalgo County Health & Human Services Department - Environmental Health Division (McAllen/Edinburg area). 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