Restaurants, commercial kitchens, and food trucks.
Austin Public Health, Environmental Health Services Division · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Travis County food-facility health permits run about $309–$927 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $221–$312. Confirm the exact amount with Austin Public Health, Environmental Health Services Division 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 Austin Public Health, Environmental Health Services Division issues the health permit.
Cities with their own health department: Austin. Food businesses inside these cities apply to the city health department (with its own fees and rules), not Travis County. Confirm which authority covers your exact address.
About 3,336 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 1,334,961. (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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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
Food Enterprise Operating Permit
$309 (gross sales $0-$49,999.99)
$618 ($50,000-$149,999.99)
$927 ($150,000+)
Child-care facility $309
qualified high-quality childcare $0
City of Austin adopted FY25-26 schedule; tiered by gross annual sales, matching the DSHS gross-sales tier structure; Applies within the City of Austin; other Travis County areas may fall under DSHS or a city
Austin Public Health scores food establishments 0–100 under Texas TFER; scores published in the City of Austin open-data portal.
Inspection scores & grading
Grading system: 0-100 demerit-based numeric score (90-100 excellent, 80-89 satisfactory, <80 significant violations). Austin Public Health, Environmental Health Services Division inspects (twice/yr) the City of Austin, unincorporated Travis County + 7 municipalities; score published on City of Austin Open Data. No letter grade/placard.
Austin Public Health held mobile jurisdiction through 2026-06-30; from 2026-07-01 vendors must hold the DSHS statewide Mobile Food Vending permit; APH's prior mobile fees were $309/unit/yr (restricted) or $239/unit/yr (unrestricted); Local fire/zoning still applies
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Travis County’s permit cost compares
At about $309/year, Travis County’s restaurant health permit is above the Texas median ($258) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 93% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 244th-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 3,336 food & drinking establishments serve ~1,334,961 residents in Travis County — one per ~400 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 ~$309 annual health permit + $221 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.
The full approval stack
A code-compliant kitchen in Travis County needs more than the health permit — these approvals are handled by separate offices. Confirm current requirements with each.
'Retail Food' operating permit; tiered by gross annual sales volume
temporary/seasonal/special-event
$62 per booth
Temporary Food Events, 1-14 days per booth (effective 2025-10-01)
Equipment your Travis 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.
$309 (gross sales $0-$49,999.99); $618 ($50,000-$149,999.99); $927 ($150,000+); Child-care facility $309; qualified high-quality childcare $0 These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Travis County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: New construction $312; remodel >10,000 sq ft $312; remodel 2,500-10,000 sq ft $266; remodel <2,500 sq ft $221; event health & safety review $265
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Travis County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Austin Public Health held mobile jurisdiction through 2026-06-30; from 2026-07-01 vendors must hold the DSHS statewide Mobile Food Vending permit; APH's prior mobile fees were $309/unit/yr (restricted) or $239/unit/yr (unrestricted); Local fire/zoning still applies
Who issues food permits in Travis County?
Food permits here are issued by Austin Public Health, Environmental Health Services Division. 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