Food and Mobile Vending Permits

Oakland was one of the first cities in the country to create a mobile food vending permit program. Fifteen years later, mobile food vending has grown in popularity and diversity, both locally and nationwide. The City revised its regulations in 2017 to keep up with these changes and increase opportunities for entrepreneurs to start a new food vending business, while protecting the health, safety, comfort, convenience, and general welfare of the community.

The new application period will begin on September 4, 2018, at the Planning and Zoning Counter (250 Frank Ogawa Plaza, 2nd Floor). Check back on this web page for links to the new application forms.

The Oakland Fire Department has begun to inspect all food trucks and commissary trucks for gas systems and fire prevention safety measures. Vendors must apply with the Department of Fire Prevention for an inspection and Fire Clearance. Vendors selected by the City for a food vending permit will only be issued the permit when the vehicle has received a Fire Clearance from the Fire Department. Click here to visit the Fire Prevention web page.

To see a map of the permitted food vending areas, with buffer distances from schools, restaurants and other vendors, click here. (Put a check in the box for "Food Vending" in the "layer list" on the right side of the screen).

To read the adopted ordinance, click here.

To read the administrative guidelines, click here.

To keep informed of new Mobile Food Vending information, click here to subscribe to email updates.