Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors in Tempe, AZ

If you live in Tempe or are thinking about moving there, food trucks & mobile vendors are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Tempe has 3 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of food trucks & mobile vendors, and some of them might surprise you.

Sidewalk & Mobile Vending

Selling food from a cart, stand or vehicle on a Tempe sidewalk, right-of-way or city-owned property is unlawful unless the vendor holds a permit under City Code Chapter 24. Vending under the guise of a donation drive with a de facto minimum price is treated the same as an unpermitted sale.

Key details: Governing section: City Code Sec. 24-19. Base rule: No sidewalk/ROW vending without permit. Administering office: Financial Services Director. Permit expiration: Annually, every December 31. Penalty: Misdemeanor under Sec. 1-7.

Vending on a sidewalk, right-of-way or city property without authorization under Chapter 24 is a misdemeanor punishable under Sec. 1-7 of the Tempe City Code. The Financial Services Director can also deny, revoke or refuse to renew a permit for noncompliance, and a lapsed permit older than thirty days is cancelled outright, sending the vendor back through the full initial application process.

This is one of the stricter rules in Tempe's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Vending Zones

Tempe bans mobile food vending from vehicles on arterial streets and inside the downtown core bounded by Farmer, College, University and Tempe Town Lake, and bars sales in public parks or on city property except through a City-run bid process, per Sec. 24-29 of the City Code.

Key details: Governing section: City Code Sec. 24-29. Arterial streets: Vehicle sales banned outright. Downtown core: Farmer/College/University/Town Lake block banned. Parks/city property: Banned except by competitive bid. Parking limit: 4 hours per 8-hour period, same spot.

Any violation of Sec. 24-29's location, timing or noise restrictions is a misdemeanor punishable under Sec. 1-7 of the Tempe City Code, per subsection (h). The Financial Services Director can also revoke a mobile merchant permit for a violation of this article under Sec. 24-28, ending the vendor's authorization to operate anywhere in the city.

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

Food Truck Permits

Operating a food truck in Tempe requires a mobile merchant permit under Section 24-26, plus an identification card for each worker, $1 million in liability insurance, and Tempe Police fingerprinting under Section 24-27. Trucks also face location, hour and school-proximity restrictions under Section 24-29.

Key details: Permit required: Mobile merchant permit, §24-26. Insurance: $1,000,000 combined single limit. Background check: Fingerprints to Tempe Police, A.R.S. §41-1750. Residential hours ban: 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.. School buffer: 500 feet during school start/end.

Operating as a mobile merchant without a permit, letting the permit lapse, or violating any Section 24-29 location or hour restriction is a misdemeanor under Section 24-29(h), punishable per the Code's general penalty section, Section 1-7. The Financial Services Director can also revoke a permit or identification card under Section 24-28 for a criminal record disclosure, a "good neighbor policy" violation, or any public health or safety concern.

The Bottom Line

Tempe 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 Tempe, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

Keep in mind that Tempe 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.