Mobile Food Unit TYPES OF PERMIT APPLICATIONS
APPLICATION & OPERATIONAL FEE RANGES Catering Vehicle Permit $ 225 Temporary Mobile Permit $ 140 + $ 5 per day( single event up to 14 days)
Note: Ongoing operational fees are not included with application fees. For a full list of fees for your business, please visit the City’ s Health Services website.
The Mobile Food Unit Permit Application is based upon state and local requirements. The Texas Food Establishment Rules( TFER) defines a Mobile Food Unit( MFU) as a vehicle-mounted, self or otherwise propelled, self-contained food service operation, designed to be readily moveable( including but not limited to catering trucks, trailers, push carts, and roadside vendors) and used to store, prepare, display, serve, or sell food. Mobile units must always completely retain their mobility. A MFU is not a stand or a booth. A roadside food vendor and pushcart may be licensed as an MFU.
A MFU must comply with the following to operate in the city: 1. The MFU has a valid Annual Mobile Food Unit Permit issued by Tarrant County Public Health or a Temporary Mobile Food Establishment Permit issued by the City of Arlington and complies with all applicable laws and regulations. 2. The MFU is operated on City property at a major sports complex, in association with a permitted Special Event with permission from the event organizer or under a Mobile Food Unit Certificate of Occupancy. Routes must be pre-approved by the Health Division.
3. MFUs may not park on City right-of-way unless it is closed with approval of the Arlington Police Department.
4. All food must be prepared or cooked at a central preparation facility( commissary) or on the mobile unit at the time of operation. A commissary may provide anything from a source for obtaining potable water and disposing of wastewater, storage for food and supplies, or cooking facilities to prepare the food for sale and consumption. Home preparation or storage of food is prohibited.
A full list of requirements can be found on the City’ s website at ArlingtonTX. gov / HealthServices.
Home-Based Food Business
The Texas Cottage Food Production Operation Law allows individuals to operate a food-based business from home. The law is defined as an individual, operating out of the individual’ s home, who:
• Produces a baked good; candy; coated and uncoated nuts; unroasted nut butters; fruit butters, a canned jam or jelly; a fruit pie; dehydrated fruit or vegetables, including dried beans, popcorn and popcorn snacks; cereal, including granola; dry mix; vinegar; pickles; mustard; roasted coffee or dry tea; or a dried herb or dried herb mix.
• Has an annual gross income of $ 50,000 or less from the sale of the described foods; and sells the foods produced directly to consumers at the individual’ s home, a farmers’ market, a farm stand, or a municipal, county, or nonprofit fair, festival or event.
• Delivers products to the consumer at the point of sale or another location designated by the consumer.
If you are interested in starting a home-based food business, please visit the Department of Health and Human Services website for a list of requirements to open a homebased food business.
A Home-Based Business permit is required and an application can be found at ArlingtonPermits. com. The City of Arlington does not require a health permit for this type of food establishment. However, the City has authority to act to prevent an immediate and serious threat to human life or health through emergency order, recall orders and delegation of powers or duties.
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