foodservicenerd
Local permits & fees

Hidalgo County, TX — Commercial Kitchen Permits

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.

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Food Establishment Annual Permit (by employee count; fee schedule eff. Feb 9, 2026)
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.

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

null - 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.

Turnaround: null - not published

Plan-review details & forms →

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.

How to apply

Apply / county portal →Forms & applications

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

CategoryAnnual feeNotes
roadside food vendor$100/yrHCHD Food Establishment Fee Schedule effective Feb 9, 2026.
educational institution / school$200/yrIncludes 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.
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.hchd.org · www.hchd.org · www.hchd.org · texasborderbusiness.com · observed 2026-08-07