Code Compliance Services
Restaurant and Bar Inspection Division  |  Mobile Food Facility

A mobile food unit is a vehicle mounted food product establishment designed to be readily movable (including, but not limited to, catering trucks and pushcarts) from which food is distributed, sold, or served to an ultimate consumer.  A food product establishment shall not serve, sell, or distribute from a mobile food unit potentially hazardous food not intended for immediate consumption.  When potentially hazardous food is allowed to be served, sold, or distributed, the correct temperatures must be maintained and food handling minimized.  The director may impose additional restrictions to protect against public health hazards and adulteration.

Applicants wishing to secure a permit for a mobile food unit must bring the unit to the Restaurant and Bar Inspection Division, 7901 Goforth Road, for inspection and approval on the following dates and times Tuesday’s or Thursday’s from 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm. You may contact the division by calling
(214) 670-8083 or faxing (214) 670-8330.

Types of Mobile Vehicles - Mobile food units in the City of Dallas are divided into two categories.

Limited Service Mobile Units - Fee $130.00
A mobile food unit from which prepackaged foods in individual servings, and beverages are served, sold or distributed.  Beverages that are not potentially hazardous and are dispensed from covered urns or other protected equipment are allowed to be sold on lunch trucks.  However, the serving of ice for beverages from an ice storage bin is prohibited and can only be dispensed from an automatic ice dispensing unit.

Units in the Limited Mobile category include:

1. Produce Vendors - Approved to vend of fruit and vegetables only.
2. Ice Cream Trucks - Approved to vend pre-wrapped and sealed ice cream, canned soft drinks, packaged candy, chips and pickles.
3. Mobile Grocery Trucks - Approved to vend pre-wrapped, non-potentially hazardous food including canned soft drinks, prepackaged grocery items, candy, chips and pickles.
4. Mobile Lunch Trucks - Approved to vend wrapped, prepared potentially hazardous food in individual packages for immediate consumption.
5. Mobile Catering Trucks - Approved to deliver prepared food to a catered operation.
6. Limited Service Pushcart - Approved to vend foods that are pre-wrapped, bottled, or otherwise packaged.

General Service Mobile Food Units - Fee $150.00
General service mobile food units include general service pushcarts and mobile food preparation vehicles (hot trucks).  All general service food products must be approved in advance by the Restaurant and Bar Inspection Division Manager.  The unit is to be returned to a commissary daily for storage of food products and sanitizing of all food contact surfaces.

Units in the General Service Mobile category include:

1. General Service Pushcarts - All pushcarts must be limited in size to 3 feet wide, 4 feet high, and 6 feet long.  Pushcarts operators may conduct light food preparation on the unit and the unit must be equipped with hot and cold running water.
2. Mobile Food Preparation Vehicle (Hot Truck) – Application Fee $250.00 - Hot trucks must be a commercially manufactured, motorized mobile food unit in which ready-to-eat food is cooked, wrapped, packaged, processed, or portioned for service, sale or distribution. 

Commissary
A commissary is a fixed food products establishment, permitted and regularly inspected by the City of Dallas.  Commissaries must be located in Dallas and the facility must be constructed in accordance with Chapter 17 of the Dallas City Code.  Home based operations are not allowed.  All limited service and general service mobile food units must report daily to the commissary where:

1. Foods served from the mobile food unit are stored, handled, or prepared.
2. Single service articles are properly stored.
3. All food contact surfaces are washed, rinsed, and sanitized.
4. Mobile units are stored overnight.

A commissary may contain a servicing area where servicing operations may also be conducted.

Operating a mobile food unit in the Central Business District (CBD)
Chapter 50 Street Vending—CBD code
A general service pushcart currently permitted may be used on public or private property in the downtown CBD area or on private property outside CBD.  Persons wishing to operate a general service mobile pushcart in the CBD must:

• Obtain a CBD Concession License and/or Location Permit from the Restaurant and Bar Inspection Division located at 7901 Goforth.
• If on pubic property: secure an approved location permits and provide an approved commissary for the base of operation.
• If on private property: in all cases, written permission must be secured from the property owner and the areas zoning must be checked.  When the CBD license is approved, the general service unit should be brought to 7901 Goforth, for inspection and permitting.