Local permits & fees

McLennan County, TX — Commercial Kitchen Permits

Waco-McLennan County Public Health District - Environmental Health Division · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Food Establishment Permit (risk-based)
Effective 2025-09-01: Low Risk $258; Medium Risk $475; High Risk $685 per year.

Late payment fee $100; re-inspection $200; reinstatement of suspended permit $350; school inspections $258 (2/yr); farmers market $100.

Plan review — required

$150 additional pre-opening/consultation (one free per establishment); Variance/HACCP evaluation $150.

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Vendor Permit
$258/year (county rate; superseded)

Texas moved mobile-food permitting to state DSHS eff. 2026-07-01 (HB 2844); vendors who cook onboard faced large state fee increases. Verify current route/fee with DSHS.

Watch out for

  • Temporary food permit $52 (single event 1-14 days); $104 if submitted <3 business days prior; multi-event annual $200.
  • Central Prep Facility/Commissary $165/year.

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

CategoryAnnual feeNotes
Food Establishment Permit (fixed) - priced by Risk CategoryLow $258 / Medium $475 / High $685Distinct scheme: risk-based tiers, not named categories. No separate caterer/bakery/bar/grocery-deli categories published (Waco-McLennan County Public Health District).
Central Preparation Facility / Commissary$165
Farmers Market$100
School Inspections$258Two inspections per year.
Child Care / Adult Care General Sanitization InspectionLevel 1 $250 / Level 2 $175
Foster/Adoptive Home Inspection$75
Temporary Food Permit$52 (single event 1-14 days) / $104 (late submittal <3 business days) / $200 (Multi-Event Annual Permit)
Sources: www.waco-texas.com · www.waco-texas.com · observed 2026-08-07