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

Every city handles food trucks & mobile vendors a little differently. In Revere, Massachusetts, 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

Every food truck operating in Revere must hold a license from the license commission under Municipal Code Section 5.10.030. Operators pay a $125 application fee plus a $500 annual fee per truck, and the commission will not approve an application without inspection certifications and proof of insurance.

Key details: Application fee: $125 per application. Annual fee: $500 per truck per year. Issuing authority: Revere License Commission. Required certifications: Municipal inspections and fire department. State license also required: M.G.L. ch. 101 hawker's license.

Operating a food truck in Revere without a valid commission license is treated as a public safety hazard: the truck may be ticketed and impounded by police, municipal inspections, or the fire department under Section 5.10.070. Leaving a food truck unattended and unsecured with food inside, or parked overnight on the street, is likewise deemed a public safety hazard subject to ticketing and impoundment. Any operator who violates the chapter or the commission's rules faces the general penalty provisions of Revere Revised Ordinances Chapters 1.12 and 1.16, and an issued license can be revoked, suspended, or denied renewal for the same noncompliance.

Vending Zones

Revere confines licensed food trucks to the zoning districts listed in Section 17.16.040 of the code, unless operating under a separate special-events permit. Trucks may not set up within 300 feet of an elementary or secondary school or on any private or government property without the owner's written consent.

Key details: Zoning limit: Areas listed in § 17.16.040 only. School buffer: 300 feet from elementary/secondary schools. Special events fee: $100 plus $50 per truck. Property consent: Written owner/agency consent required. License scope: Non-exclusive to a designated location.

Operating outside the permitted zoning areas, within the 300-foot school buffer, or on private or government property without written consent violates Section 5.10.040 and can result in ticketing, impoundment, or revocation, suspension, or denial of renewal of the food truck license by the commission under Sections 5.10.040(N) and 5.10.070. Violations of the chapter or the commission's rules are also punishable under Revere Revised Ordinances Chapters 1.12 and 1.16.

The Bottom Line

Revere'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 Revere is broadly strict or permissive.

All of the above reflects Revere's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.