Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors in Gresham, OR

Gresham maintains 113 local ordinances across all categories, and 3 of those deal specifically with food trucks & mobile vendors. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Gresham falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Vending Zones

Gresham lets permitted street and sidewalk vendors sell food from carts in commercial areas, but GRC 9.45.080 bans setting up within 10 feet of intersections, 8 feet of property lines, or building entrances.

Key details: Governing law: GRC Article 9.45. Permit needed: Street and Sidewalk Vendor permit. Intersection buffer: 10 feet from crosswalks. Overnight rule: Carts off street midnight-6 a.m..

Vending in a non-permitted commercial location, setting up within the intersection, entrance or property-line buffers, or leaving a cart on the street overnight is a nuisance violation under GRC 9.45.100.

Food Truck Permits

Food carts and food cart pods operating in Gresham need a city development permit plus a Multnomah County Mobile Food Unit Operating License before serving customers on qualifying commercial sites.

Key details: Permit trigger: on-site over 4 hrs/day. Permit type: Type I or Type II. County license: Mobile Food Unit Operating License. Renewal: auto-renews with business license. Governing code: Development Code § 10.1600.

Operating without the required development permit or a valid county Mobile Food Unit Operating License can trigger a Code Compliance enforcement action under GRC Article 7.50, including civil penalties, citations or abatement, and blocks automatic permit renewal.

Sidewalk & Mobile Vending

Selling food, flowers, or merchandise from a Gresham street or sidewalk requires a Street and Sidewalk Vendor permit from the city manager, with cart-size, siting, and litter rules attached.

Key details: Permit required: yes, issued by city manager. Cart size limit: 16 sq ft, max 5 ft tall. Setback from intersections: 10 feet. Setback from property line: 8 feet. Vending hours: not midnight to 6 a.m..

Vending without a permit, or in violation of siting, size, or hours rules, is declared a public nuisance; the manager or a public safety officer may remove and store the cart until the owner pays removal and storage charges (GRC 9.45.100).

The Bottom Line

Gresham'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 Gresham is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Gresham can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.