Food Permit

austin food permit and food requirements

Food Permit Application

• Austin/Travis County Health Department requires a Temporary Event Food Permit for all participants that serve, sell, or sample foods or beverages that are prepared on site or served in unsealed packages. There is a food permit fee ($62), though no additional paperwork for participants to complete. Participants must keep all receipts for items being served and follow all the Austin/Travis County Health Department requirements. 
• Email completed permit application to: info@texasvegfest.com.
• Pay Temporary Food permit fee ($62/permit).
• Please read all of the Austin/ Travis County Event Food Handling details on the city’s website: City of Austin Temporary Food Eventss.
• Temporary Food Permits are required by the Austin/ Travis County Health Department for any participant sampling or selling any food or beverage that is either prepared or opened on-site at the Texas VegFest venue.
• Permit Applications due March 20th to meet the Austin Health Department deadline and to secure your permit to serve/sample prepared food/beverages at Texas VegFest. 
• Late fees apply to applications received after March 20th ($120 Fee, determined by the health department)

Food Booth Checklist and Guide

• Temporary Food Service On-Site Requirements: Required booth information and set-up for all food vendors in Austin/Travis County
• Event Booth Set-Up Checklist: Use this checklist to ensure you have all listed requirements before the event opens (Health Department will shut down any booth that does not meet their requirements)

Cottage Food Law Guidance Document

• Home prepared food are not allowed unless you have a Cottage Food Production Operation
• Find additional answers to Cottage Food Law questions here: Texas Cottage Food Law FAQs

Food Waste Reduction

• Food Waste Source Reduction Overview
• Food Donation Fact Sheet
• Austin Food Waste Guidelines for Donating Foods and Handling Surplus Foods
• Austin Universal Recycling Ordinance
• Food Resources for Businesses, Schools, and Communities
• Donate Food Keep Austin Fed
• Central Texas Food Bank Donate Food

Mobile Food Vendor Guide

• Please send a copy of your Mobile Food Permit to us so we may send to the city and health department: info@texasvegfest.com.
• Austin Fire Department Mobile Food Vending Checklist (English; Spanish)
• City of Austin Mobile Food Vendor Information

Shipping with Dry Ice

• Perishable items must arrive at the venue before your booth set up.
• Our team will store properly shipped perishable items on site
• Perishable items must be stored in dry ice and arrive by Friday April 7th.
• Learn more about dry ice shipping using the USPS, DHL, and FedEx resources.