Houston restaurant permits: who issues it, and what sets the price

In Houston, the food permit is priced on a plan review you must clear before you open, not a fee tier. That one sentence is most of what separates Houston from every other city’s guide — and it is the part generic checklists get wrong.

The permit and who issues it

The document is the City of Houston Food Dealer permit, issued by City of Houston Health Department.

What it costs

Houston publishes the Food Dealer permit process rather than a single price list — the invoice is raised after your preoperational inspection passes. Confirm the current amount with the Health Department before you budget.

How it actually runs in Houston

1. Pay the plan review fee — you are then invited to upload plans into ProjectDox, the City's electronic plan review system.
2. Build out — construction happens against the reviewed plans.
3. Preoperational inspection — required before any permit is issued.
4. Permit invoiced — the operating permit is invoiced and processed once payment is received, then mailed to the address on file.

The paperwork around the permit

• Texas Sales and Use Tax Permit — Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.
• Entity registration — Texas Secretary of State; the Texas LLC filing fee was $300 when we last checked — confirm the current figure with the office.
• Harris County Clerk assumed name (DBA) record — official page.

Who to ask

Houston Health Department, 8000 N. Stadium Dr., Houston · 832-393-5100 — official page.

Sources

• Food Dealer permit — Houston Permitting Center
• Food Safety and Inspection Program — Houston Permitting Center