Food Trucks: What is a Mobile Food Establishment (MFE)?
Commonly referred to as a food truck, an MFE is a motor vehicle or enclosed trailer with walls and a roof inside of which a certified food handler operates kitchen equipment that is used for cooking, preparing, and/or assembling food items for sale to the public.
Food trucks/MFEs are not permitted everywhere in the city. Not all types of businesses are allowed to host MFEs. Sites or businesses that host MFEs must have a short term or long-term MFE permit. MRE operators are responsible for timely health and fire inspections of their vehicles to ensure they are operated safely.
Requirements for MFE operators
Mobile Food Establishments (MFEs) must have current inspection stickers from the Fire Marshall and the Williamson County and Cities Health District (WCCHD) to operate anywhere in Round Rock. MFEs may remain in one location only if the site has an active MFE permit.
- To schedule a Fire Marshall’s inspection of your food truck and/or tent call 512-218-6628 or visit the City of Round Rock Permit Portal. Inspections are by appointment only and are scheduled Tuesdays and Thursdays between 8:30-10:30 a.m.
- To schedule a WCCHD licensing inspection call 512-248-7620. The WCCHD office is across the street from the Fire Marshall’s office.
Finding sites for your MFE
If you are an MFE operator looking for locations that have active MFE site permits, please call the Planning and Development Services (PDS) front desk at 512-218-5428. If you are interested in operating an MFE at a Parks and Recreation Dept. facility, contact PARD at 512-218-5540 or PARDcustomerservice@roundrocktexas.gov.
Requirements for MFE hosting sites
MFE permits are issued to the owner or manager of the hosting site only when the site is suitable for MFEs as an accessory use. Vacant sites are not eligible to host MFEs. The site owner or manager is responsible for ensuring that all MFEs on the property have current inspection stickers from the Fire Marshall and the Williamson County and Cities Health District (WCCHD). The site’s MFE permit may be revoked if it hosts an MFE without these inspection stickers three times in a 12-month period.
MFE permit applications
Use the City of Round Rock Permit Portal to submit permit application, attachments, and fees. Permit issuance and correspondence relating to the application will be conducted through the portal.
An MFE permit (short-term, long-term, MFE park, or Downtown) only allows MFEs as an accessory use to specific primary uses outlined for each permit type. MFE permits will not be issued for undeveloped lots.
MFEs Downtown
MFEs Downtown must be located on private property or, with approval, in unimproved alleys. They must meet all site location requirements and provide additional screening and separation when located near single-family homes. Only one MFE is allowed per site, except at event centers in the MU-2 district. Both Long-term and Short-term MFE permits are available. Refer to Sec. 2-93 for complete details on siting, screening, and operation.
Downtown Short-term permits allow a site to host MFEs for up to three days per permit, and no more than four permits may be issued per calendar year. Refer to Sec. 2-93 for details regarding siting and operation of MFEs. Permit fee: $25. The following site types are eligible to host MFEs as a short-term accessory use:
- Restaurant/bar on a lot zoned MU-1
- Restaurant/bar or retail sales and service on a lot zoned MU-2
- Limited mobile food services on lots zoned MU-L with frontage on Main St and Georgetown St when operating in conjunction with a restaurant/bar, retail sales and service establishment, wellness center, and even center. Food preparation is not allowed, including the use of exhaust fans, grills, deep fryers, ranges, griddles or similar cooking equipment. Only food warming, packaging of pre-prepared foods, and beverage preparation are allowed
- Event center on lot zoned MU-2
- Small-scale alcohol production facility
- Place of worship, short-term accessory use permit only
- Government service facility
- Community facility, short-term accessory use permit only
- Planned Unit Development (PUD) as specified in the PUD
- Municipal park and recreation facility (PARD is the applicant for city-sponsored events
Downtown Long-term permits allow a site to host MFEs for a calendar year. Refer to Sec. 2-93 for details regarding siting and operation of MFEs. Permit fee: $150. The following site types are eligible to host MFEs as a long-term Downtown accessory use:
- Restaurant/bar on a lot zoned MU-1
- Restaurant/bar or retail sales and service on a lot zoned MU-2
- Limited mobile food services on lots zoned MU-L with frontage on Main St and Georgetown St when operating in conjunction with a restaurant/bar, retail sales and service establishment, wellness center, and even center. Food preparation is not allowed, including the use of exhaust fans, grills, deep fryers, ranges, griddles or similar cooking equipment. Only food warming, packaging of pre-prepared foods, and beverage preparation are allowed
- Event center on lot zoned MU-2
- Small-scale alcohol production facility
- Government service facility
- Planned Unit Development (PUD) as specified in the PUD
- Municipal park and recreation facility (PARD is the applicant for city-sponsored events)
MFE Short-Term Accessory Use (outside downtown)
Short-term MFE permits allow a site to host MFE(s) for up to three days per permit, and no more than four permits may be issued per calendar year. Refer to Sec. 2-93 for details regarding siting and operation of MFEs. Permit fee: $25.
- Commercially zoned property with an operational business
- Employment or industrial-zoned property with an operational business
- Small-scale alcohol production facility
- Event center
- Community/government service facility/place of worship
- Municipal park and recreation facility (PARD is the applicant for city-sponsored events)
- Homeowner Association (HOA) common area
- Public and private education facilities, corporate office campuses, and business/industrial parks where the MFE provides services to the students or employees of the hosting organization
MFE Long-Term Accessory Use (outside downtown)
Long-term MFE permits allow a site to host MFEs for a calendar year, although the MFE(s) may remain overnight only on weekends. Refer to Sec. 2-93 for details regarding siting and operation of MFEs. Permit fee: $150.
- Eating/drinking establishment on a lot zoned MU-1, or zoned PUD adjacent to a lot zoned MU-1 or MU-2
- Multi-tenant center where the MFE is located within an internally-oriented pedestrian promenade which is not visible from the public right-of-way
- Small-scale alcohol production facility
- Event center
- Municipal park and recreation facility (PARD is the applicant for city-sponsored events)
- Homeowner Association (HOA) common area
- Public and private education facilities, corporate office campuses, and business/industrial parks where the MFE provides services to the students or employees of the hosting organization
MFE Park Accessory Use
MFE Park permits allow a site to host three (3) or more mobile food establishments (MFEs) to offer food sales to the public in an area that has been designated and reviewed for this use. Permits are issued for a calendar year, and MFEs may remain on site overnight and may serve customers even when the site’s primary use is closed. Refer to Sec. 2-93 for details regarding siting and operation of MFEs. Permit fee: $150. The following site types are eligible to host MFE Parks as an accessory use:
- Public or private education facility
- Corporate office campus
- Business/industrial park
- Municipal park and recreation facility
