Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors in Mount Vernon, NY

Mount Vernon maintains 123 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 Mount Vernon falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Sidewalk & Mobile Vending

Mount Vernon restricts where and when licensed food vendors can operate on public sidewalks and streets. Vending is barred before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m., except food trucks get extended hours, open until 8 or 9:30 p.m. depending on the season. Vendors cannot park in one spot more than 30 minutes without moving 200 feet, and must stay clear of intersections, hydrants and building entrances.

Key details: Vending hours: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., extended for food trucks. Extended food-truck hours: Until 9:30 p.m. June 15-Sept 15. Dwell time limit: 30 minutes before moving 200 feet. Intersection buffer: 100 feet minimum. Hydrant/hospital buffer: 250 feet minimum.

Violating any restriction in § 194-11 is punishable under § 194-18 by a fine of up to $250, up to 15 days in jail, or both, and the vendor's merchandise or equipment can be seized and impounded until the fine is paid, then sold at public auction under a 10-day published notice. Repeated violations are also grounds for the City Clerk to suspend or revoke the vendor's license under § 194-12.

Vending Zones

Mount Vernon bans peddling and food vending outright on a defined list of downtown streets, including Fourth Avenue, Gramatan Avenue, Broad Street, Grand Street, Fleetwood Avenue, Prospect Avenue, Sanford Boulevard, Fifth Avenue, Third Street and part of First Street, plus any area zoned residential on the City's Zoning Map. Vending is also barred within 250 feet of a school during school hours.

Key details: Prohibited streets, group 1: Fourth Ave, Gramatan Ave, Broad St, Grand St. Prohibited streets, group 2: Fleetwood, Prospect, Sanford, Fifth Ave, Third St. Residential zones: All areas zoned residential citywide. School buffer: 250 feet, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. school days. Ice cream truck exception: Not confined to § 194-11.A(10) streets.

Vending on a restricted street or inside the school buffer violates § 194-11 and is punishable under § 194-18 by a fine of up to $250, up to 15 days in jail, or both. Officers and Code Enforcement can seize a vendor's merchandise or cart under § 194-18.B until any fine is paid, and repeat violations expose the vendor's license to suspension or revocation by the City Clerk under § 194-12.

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

Food Truck Permits

Mount Vernon requires every food vendor operating a mobile food truck, cart or pushcart to hold a City Clerk license before selling food anywhere in the city. Applicants need fingerprinting, a $1 million liability policy, a $2,500 bond and pay $600 a year for a vehicle-based license. No more than 20 licenses citywide are permitted at once.

Key details: Annual fee, motor vehicle license: $600 per year. Liability insurance required: $1,000,000 minimum, City as additional insured. Performance bond required: $2,500 approved by Corporation Counsel. Citywide license cap: 20 licenses in effect at once. License expiration: Automatically expires May 1 each year.

Operating without a license, or violating any provision of this article, is punishable under § 194-18 by a fine up to $250, up to 15 days imprisonment, or both, and unlicensed merchandise or equipment can be seized and impounded by the City until any fine is paid, then sold at public auction. The City Clerk can also suspend or revoke a license under § 194-12 for fraud, unlawful operation, or loss of Health Department authorization, barring reapplication for one year.

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

The Bottom Line

Mount Vernon is tougher than many cities when it comes to food trucks & mobile vendors. Out of the 3 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Mount Vernon, 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 Mount Vernon's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.