Local permits & fees

Bexar County, TX — Commercial Kitchen Permits

San Antonio Metropolitan Health District (SAMHD), Food & Environmental Health Services (inside San Antonio city limits); Bexar County Environmental Services (unincorporated Bexar County) · department site →

Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Food Establishment License (SAMHD, tiered by employee count) / Food Service Establishment permit (Bexar County)

SAMHD (city): Tier 1A ~$252; 11-25 employees $711; 26-50 employees $966; 50+ employees $1,204. Bexar County (unincorporated): 1-3 employees $175; 4-6 employees $225; 7+ employees $300.

Two authorities: restaurants inside San Antonio permit through SAMHD (fee scales with employee count/size); restaurants in unincorporated Bexar County permit through Bexar County Environmental Services. SAMHD full tier table not fully enumerated on the fetched page; figures shown are confirmed points from the fee schedule.

Plan review — required

Bexar County: $250 per review. SAMHD: plan review is part of the application process (separate line-item fee not confirmed on official page - null).

Turnaround: SAMHD plan review approx 2-6 weeks.

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Unit permit - Texas DSHS statewide license (HB 2844)

DSHS: Type I $309; Type II $618 (+$400 pre-licensing inspection); Type III $876 (+$500 pre-licensing inspection)

CONFIRMED 2026-08-10: Effective July 1, 2026, mobile food units are permitted via a single statewide Texas DSHS Mobile Food Vendor license (HB 2844), replacing the former SAMHD Mobile Food Establishment permit and the Bexar County Mobile Food Unit permit. DSHS fees: Type I $309; Type II $618 (+$400 pre-licensing inspection); Type III $876 (+$500 pre-licensing inspection). San Antonio still requires a SAFD fire permit for gas units and a written approved-commissary agreement; zoning stays local.

How to apply

Apply / county portal →Forms & applications

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Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

Category	Annual fee	Notes
Catering operation	$310 (<$50k) / $618 ($50k-$149,999) / $928 ($150k+)	Covered under the unified Food Establishment (FE) permit; fee based on gross annual food sales (no separate caterer fee).
Market / retail food store	$310 / $618 / $928 by gross annual food sales	Also covered under the unified FE permit.
Schools - for-profit contractor	$240	Annual permit for school food operated by a for-profit contractor.
Schools - ISD & non-profit contractor	$240	Fee for 2 inspections per school year.

Texas statewide rules

Who licenses you, reciprocity, and the state regime.

What equipment you need

Build a tailored equipment checklist for your concept.

Permits & plan review, explained

The stack of approvals before you open.

Sources: www.sa.gov · www.bexar.org · sanantonio-tx.elaws.us · www.dshs.texas.gov · observed 2026-08-10