‘It makes sense’: Austin changes inspection requirements for food trucks

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Rod Ferriol spent a good portion of his Monday prepping food for his South Austin food truck, Los Galanes Birria.

“I can’t complain. This isn’t work for me,” Ferriol said. “This is fun for me."

Ferriol said he opened his Mexican street food truck around a year and a half ago after his kids were grown and left home. While he cooked for family and friends his whole life, this is his first time doing it professionally. And even though he’s having fun, he said it’s not always easy having a new business. 

“Like anything here in Austin that’s food-related, there's a lot of competition, especially when you just do Mexican [food],” he said.

Ferriol said every day counts in this industry. That’s why he and other food truck owners think it's a misuse of time when they're required to shut down and transport their vehicles for health and safety inspections to a north Austin city facility every year. Ferriol said these trips have caused him to lose valuable time at his food truck park. 

"Doing the inspections on site — for me, it makes sense," he said.

As of last Thursday, traveling for inspections is no longer a requirement. The Austin City Council approved on consent a new ordinance that allows inspectors to conduct inspections at the food truck’s location. 

This was something the city has been looking into since March 2024. A survey found that 92% of food truck owners agreed that on-site permitting inspections would be preferred, according to city documents.

“Food trucks are an important part of our culinary diversity,” District 6 Council Member Krista Laine said on the dais. “I’m so grateful it’ll be easier for our local business and food truck owners to get inspections.”

While food truck owners no longer need to travel to the north Austin facility to have the inspection, the on-site inspections will cost more. On-site permits will cost $740, and the re-inspection fee is $230. That is compared to $212 and $109, respectively, if done at the city facility.