Food Vendor Permits (The City does not host Market Days. Contact the Bandera Business Association or the Bandera County Chamber of Commerce for vendor Market Day information.)

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

  • Mobile Food Units operating for more than 14 days in a fixed location 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
  • Cottage Food requires a 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 copy of valid general liability insurance

Fees - Payments can be made online. Go to Municipal Online Payments & choose the Vendor Payment option.

  • Daily - $20.00
  • 72 Hours – $50.00
  • One month (also a Temporary Business: a commercial activity conducted for no more than thirty consecutive days) - $60.00
  • Non-profit (proof required) – Free
  • Annual Bandera Business Association Market Days (good for all Bandera Market Days in a calendar year, March through December) - $175.00
  • Annual Chamber of Commerce Market Day Events - $125.00
  • Bandera Business Association / Chamber of Commerce Combo - $300.00
  • Late fee - $50.00
  • Selling without a valid permit (first offense) - $250.00 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.

  • City easement – you must check with city officials as to the actual city easement lines before you will be allowed to set up
  • Private property – you must have a signed letter from the property owner giving permission for you to set up on that property
    • The letter must include Property Owner's name 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.

 

Anyone who sells listed products below (a cottage food product) does not have to obtain a temporary state health permit but is required by Texas Law to have a Food Handler's Card.

A cottage food production operation 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.
The following is a list of some items not allowed under cottage law.  Visit https://cottagefoodlaw.com/allowed-foods/ for a more comprehensive list.
  • Beverages, cakes, puddings or pies that require refrigeration to keep from spoiling, Beef jerky, street corn, Charcuterie boards, fresh fruits, fresh salsa, pickled eggs and low-acid foods.
For questions about Texas State Health Department licensing, please call (512) 834-6626.       
*This is not the inspection department*

For questions about inspections, the Bandera County Inspector is:

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

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