How Franklin Handles Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: A Practical Guide

Every city handles food trucks & mobile vendors a little differently. In Franklin, Tennessee, 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.

Food Truck Permits

Operating a food truck in Franklin requires a Mobile Food Vendor Permit from Building & Neighborhood Services (BNS), governed by Title 9 Chapter 11 (Mobile Food Vending) of the Franklin Municipal Code. Franklin's adopted ordinance (Aug. 28, 2023; effective Sept. 25, 2023) caps the city-wide program at 12 mobile food units operating per year as a pilot framework, with operations ceasing by 9:00 PM. Per an update to the International Fire Code, applicants must also obtain a state-issued fire permit from the Tennessee State Fire Marshal and a Tennessee Department of Health retail food permit (TDH rules Chapter 1200-23-1).

Key details: Code Section: Franklin Municipal Code Title 9 Chapter 11; Section 9-1104 (Permit Requirement). Adoption: Aug. 28, 2023 (6-0 vote) BOMA; pilot framework. City-Wide Cap: 12 mobile food units operating per year. Issuing Office: Building & Neighborhood Services (615-794-7012). State Fire Permit: REQUIRED — TN State Fire Marshal mobile food permit.

Operating without the Franklin Mobile Food Vendor Permit, the state fire permit, the TDH food permit, or the Franklin business license is a Title 9 Chapter 11 violation. Cease-operations orders issued by BNS / Franklin Fire Marshal. Each day of continuing violation is a separate offense in Franklin Municipal Court. Insurance lapses void the permit.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Franklin actively enforces its food truck permits requirements.

Vending Zones

Under Franklin Municipal Code Title 9 Chapter 11 (Mobile Food Vending), adopted Aug. 28, 2023, mobile food units in Franklin may operate ONLY on developed and occupied property within the business and industrial zoning districts. Residential zones are off-limits for food-truck vending. Operations must cease by 9:00 PM (except where residents privately host the truck as a catering vendor on private property). The city-wide pilot caps active operating units at 12 per year. A separate Mobile Food Vendor Location-Specific Application is required for anchored single-site operations.

Key details: Code Section: Franklin Municipal Code Title 9 Chapter 11 (Mobile Food Vending). Adoption: Aug. 28, 2023 BOMA (6-0). Allowed Zones: Business AND industrial districts only (developed + occupied property). Residential Zones: Prohibited (except private-event catering on private property). Operating Hours: Must cease by 9:00 PM.

Operating outside the business / industrial zoning districts, on residential property without qualifying as a private-event catering vendor, operating past 9:00 PM, or operating without a permit / sticker is a Title 9 Chapter 11 violation. Cease-operations orders by BNS / Fire Marshal; each day a separate offense in Franklin Municipal Court.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Franklin actively enforces its vending zones requirements.

The Bottom Line

Franklin is tougher than many cities when it comes to food trucks & mobile vendors. Out of the 2 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Franklin, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

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