Businesses that serve food or beverages to the public or provide child care services are required to obtain health permits as part of the Certificate of Occupancy application prior to opening for service to the public. Food or beverage businesses that do not operate out of a building are also required to obtain health permits prior to operating. Applications for the permit types below must be submitted a minimum of 10 days before the proposed date of operation.
The following files are in pdf file format and require Adobe Acrobat in order to be able to view them. Adobe Acrobat can be downloaded here.
Temporary/Seasonal Food Establishment Permits
To apply for a Temporary or a Seasonal Food Establishment Permit, please apply at ArlingtonPermits.com.
Additional information can be found in the following documents.
Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)
To provide prepared meals to children during school breaks as a Summer Food Service Program provider, your organization must register with the City of Arlington Health Division as a Summer Food Service Program Organization.
If you are interested in becoming a Summer Food Service provider, please visit the
Texas Department of Agriculture Summer Meal website.
Additional permitting information can be found in the following document.
To register your SFSP Organization and apply for permits at each SFSP site, please go to www.ArlingtonPermits.com.
Food Truck/Mobile Food Unit Permits
House Bill 2878 was passed by the 88th Texas State Legislature, shifting all permitting and inspection authority for mobile food vendors to Tarrant County Public Health. To read the bill for HB 2878, please click here.
As a result, effective September 1, 2023, the City of Arlington will no longer issue permits for mobile food vendors. Operators are still required to abide by all applicable city zoning and ordinance requirements. For specific questions on city zoning and ordinance requirements, please visit City Code of Ordinances or call 817-459-6502.
For more information about obtaining a mobile vending permit, visit Tarrant County Inspections. To verify a mobile vendor's permit status, or file a complaint against a mobile food vendor please visit Tarrant County Public Health or call Tarrant County Public Health at 817-248-6299.
To look up mobile vendor inspections after September 1, 2023, please visit Tarrant County Public Health.
To apply for a Temporary Food Truck/Mobile Food Unit Permit please apply at ArlingtonPermits.com. Within Health Permits, you will choose Temporary Food Establishment Permits, choosing the Subtype Profit. For assistance, please call 817-459-6693.
For questions about Fire Department requirements, please call 817-459-5539.
Please see the following links for additional information about the Temporary Mobile Food Unit Permit and HB2878 Guidance Document.
Catering Permit
To apply for a Commercial Catering Permit, please contact Bill O'Toole, Health Services Analyst, at 817-459-6693. Information and requirements are available by clicking here.
Stationary Pushcart
Stationary pushcart operations may be restricted by zoning regulations and are required to report back to the central preparation facility or commissary at the conclusion of every business day.
For more information about obtaining a stationary pushcart permit, visit Tarrant County Inspections. To verify a stationary pushcart's permit status, or file a complaint against a stationary pushcart vendor please visit Tarrant County Public Health or call Tarrant County Public Health at 817-248-6299.