Food Vendor Permits

All Food Vendors must have the following to vend in the city of Bandera

• Mobile Food Units (aka Food Truck) require Texas State Health Permit
• Food vendors operating at an event for no more than 14 consecutive days require a DSHS Temporary Food Establishment Event Permit AND Food Handler's Certificate

Additional requirements for a Food Vendor Permit for the City of Bandera:

• a copy of a valid driver’s license or state issued ID
• a copy of the State Sales Tax certificate - Apply at comptroller.texas.gov if you do not have a Texas sales tax certificate
• a Certificate of Insurance

Fees - Payments can be made online AFTER approval from the city's Permitting Admin. Go to Municipal Online Payments & choose the Vendor Payment option.

• Daily - $20.00 + $10 for each additional day
• Monthly - $60.00 (Maximum 12 months)
• Bandera C of O Holders - 50% discount
• Non-profit (proof required) – Free
• Arts & Crafts FAIRS - (Vendors of handmade goods participating in an Arts Fair) Free 
• Late fee - $50.00
• Selling without a valid permit (first offense) - $100.00 Multiple offenses may result in the vendor being barred from selling in the City for up to 6 months

Locations

To be a vendor within the City of Bandera you must be located within a city easement or on private property. You cannot be located in a Texas Department of Transportation right-of-way.

• Place Types P1 & CS - Subject to Facility Use Agreement with the City.
• Place Type P3 - Private property as a caterer who does not sell to any individual other than the resident under contract.
• Place Types P2, P4, P5 & P6 – Submit a letter of permission from the business/private property owner with the application.
  • The letter must include Property Owner's name, signature and contact information, property address. Vendor's name and dates the vendor is allowed to set up

Signs: See the Bandera Code & Ordinances page for information pertaining to signs you intend to display as part of your booth or mobile food unit. Feather signs are prohibited in the City limits. Click here for more information on City of Bandera Sign Ordinances.

DSHS Permit Applications

Food vendors operating at an event for no more than 14 consecutive days must obtain a Temporary Texas State Health Permit. To apply, go to dshs.texas.gov/retail-food-establishments/permitting-information-retail-food-establishments#Temporary%20Retail%20Food%20Establishments

Scroll until you find Table of Contents and then choose Temporary Retail Food Establishments.  

There are two options:

1. Temporary Food Establishment Single Event Permit Application. This permit is good for ONE event. It costs $52.00.
2. Temporary Food Establishment Multi Event Permit Application. This permit is good for TWO YEARS. It costs $200.00.

All permit applications must be submitted to the state 30 days prior to the event date.

Applications can be submitted by mail or online. Submitting an application online is significantly faster than submitting by mail.

As of September 1, 2025 (the last update of the Texas Cottage Food Law) you may sell any homemade food items directly to consumers, EXCEPT:

Meat, meat products, poultry, or poultry products;

Seafood, including seafood products, fish, fish products, shellfish, and shellfish products;

Ice or ice products, including shaved ice, ice cream, frozen custard, popsicles, and gelato;

Products containing cannabidiol or tetrahydrocannabinol; or

Raw milk and raw milk products.

Permits from the City are no longer required to sell Cottage Law Foods.
 

For questions about inspections, the Bandera County Inspector is:

Carlos Mora
(512) 963-7213
jeancarlos.moracolon@dshs.texas.gov