Outdoor Vendor Support Clinic

City of Oakland Fostering Outdoor Vendor Community with Hands-On Outreach & Education Event 

An in-person clinic for mobile food and other vendors, bringing together City of Oakland and County of Alameda permitting departments. 

The City of Oakland, in partnership with the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce and the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts, is hosting a hands-on outreach event for outdoor vendors.  

The ‘Oakland Mobile Vendor Support Symposium + Clinic’ is one of the many ways the City of Oakland is supporting a vibrant and safe local economy. Geared towards food truck, push cart, other mobile vendors, and Temporary Food Facility operators; this all-day event offers education, technical assistance, permitting and licensing services from City of Oakland and Alameda County agencies – all in one place. 

The Clinic brings together the Alameda County Department of Public Health Food Safety Division with the City of Oakland Economic and Workforce Development, Fire Prevention, and Business License teams. Attendees can submit license and permit applications, receive counseling and education on operating requirements, and receive live demonstrations of compliant food truck, push cart, and temporary food facility setups. 

The clinic will take place on Thursday, August 13, 2026 from 2:00 – 6:00 p.m. at the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts.  Live music will kick off at 2:00 p.m. and continue throughout the event. Those who complete registration will receive a voucher for food and beverage provided at the event by local Oakland-based operators. Advance registration is encouraged, and translation services will be available. 

The Clinic is made possible through a grant from Pacific Gas & Electric. 

Outdoor vending can occur in many different settings, involving different jurisdictions and public agencies. Regulation is a complex domain governed by both state and local laws, enforced by County and City departments.  In the case of food vendors, Alameda County Health is required to inspect and approve food preparation practices, vending equipment, and sanitary setups. In addition to public health and sanitation, regulations ensure there are no negative impacts to pedestrian and vehicular circulation or damage to public infrastructure. 

City of Oakland departments will be available at the Clinic to provide counseling and help attendees initiate submittals applications: The Business License and Tax Office, Economic Workforce Development Department, and Oakland Fire Prevention Bureau.  The Alameda County Department of Public Health will also have a team onsite with education material and demonstration setups.