Cherry Hill's Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles food trucks & mobile vendors a little differently. In Cherry Hill, New Jersey, there are 2 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Sidewalk & Mobile Vending

Cherry Hill Township Code § 9-1.2 requires any food vendor, including a mobile food retail unit, to hold a license from the Township Division of Food Licensing before operating, and § 9-1.3a sets the annual fee for lunch trucks, ice cream trucks, hot dog carts and similar mobile units at $100.00 per unit.

Key details: License required: From Division of Food Licensing. Mobile unit fee: $100.00/unit annually. License year: May 1 to April 30. Late renewal fee: $50.00. Health inspections: Camden County Health Department.

Section 9-1.5 lets the Township Department of Vital Statistics, Division of Food Licensing suspend or revoke a vendor's license or certificate approval for any violation of this article or the Code, after the holder has an opportunity for a hearing. Operating without the required license under § 9-1.2a is separately enforceable as a Code violation through the Township Municipal Court.

Food Truck Permits

Cherry Hill Township requires every mobile food unit, including lunch trucks, ice cream trucks and hot dog carts, to hold a license from the Division of Food Licensing before setting up anywhere in the township. The mobile unit fee is $100 per truck, and the Department of Vital Statistics can suspend or revoke that license after a hearing for code violations.

Key details: Mobile unit license fee: $100 per unit. Issuing office: Div. of Food Licensing. License term: 1 year from May 1. Late renewal fee: $50 after May 1. Health inspections: Camden County Health Dept..

Operating a lunch truck, ice cream truck or hot dog cart in Cherry Hill without a Division of Food Licensing license violates Section 9-1.2a. The Township Department of Vital Statistics can suspend or revoke a mobile vendor's license under Section 9-1.5 after giving the holder a hearing. Missing the May 1 renewal date adds a $50 late fee under Section 9-1.4, and two consecutive conditional health ratings trigger a two-year staffing requirement under Section 9-1.2c.

The Bottom Line

Cherry Hill's food trucks & mobile vendors rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Cherry Hill is broadly strict or permissive.

These rules come from Cherry Hill's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.