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

Yakima maintains 106 local ordinances across all categories, and 2 of those deal specifically with food trucks & mobile vendors. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Yakima falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Food Truck Permits

YMC Chapter 5.57 (Mobile Food Vendors) — adopted by Ord. 2015-029 and amended by Ord. 2020-006 — requires every mobile or street vendor to obtain a city business license under YMC Chapter 5.52 (YMC 5.57.020). Before the license issues, the applicant must furnish the City Codes Office with proof of approval from the WA Department of Labor & Industries, the WA Department of Health, and the Yakima Health District, plus a written narrative addressing storage, commissary, posting and equipment requirements under WAC 246-215-09100, -09120 and -09160 (YMC 5.57.030). State licensing of mobile food units flows from WAC 246-215 (administered through the Yakima Health District) and is preserved by Washington's mobile-food-unit framework — cities can layer business licensing on top but cannot ban state-licensed units. The business license must be prominently displayed on the unit at all times (YMC 5.57.020).

Key details: Code Chapter: YMC Ch. 5.57 (Mobile Food Vendors); business license YMC Ch. 5.52. Ordinance Authority: Ord. 2015-029 (adopted); Ord. 2020-006 (amended 2020). State Food Code: WAC 246-215 (mobile food units; administered by Yakima Health District). Permit Display: Business license must be prominently displayed on the unit (YMC 5.57.020). Required State Approvals: L&I + WA DOH + Yakima Health District (YMC 5.57.030(1)).

Operating without a YMC Chapter 5.52 city business license or without the YMC 5.57.030 health/L&I approvals is a YMC Chapter 5.57 violation, addressable under YMC Chapter 5.52 enforcement and YMC Chapter 11.40 / 11.40.106.4 penalties ($250 / $500 / $750 / $1,000 escalating). Failure to display the business license on the unit is a YMC 5.57.020 violation. Health-code violations (WAC 246-215) are enforced by the Yakima Health District and can result in suspension or revocation of the state mobile food unit permit. Overnight occupation of a location by a Level 2 or Level 3 vendor violates YMC 5.57.060.

Vending Zones

YMC 5.57.040 sets buffers and zone restrictions. Mobile or street vendors may not operate in any vehicle travel lane (YMC 5.57.040(2)) and may not sell from a vehicle in a residential zoning district except in connection with a special event or private catering (YMC 5.57.040(3)). Mandatory buffers: 300 ft from any public or private school during regular sessions/events (unless authorized by the school); 100 ft from a brick-and-mortar business open for business and offering similar goods; 100 ft from any open restaurant/cafe/eating establishment if selling food; not in ROW abutting private property without owner permission; and 300 ft from any public park with an active special-event permit (unless authorized). No more than 2 mobile vendors per linear block frontage are allowed, subject to the buffers (YMC 5.57.040(4)(a)–(f)).

Key details: Code Section: YMC 5.57.040 (Geographical Restrictions); 5.57.060 (Time Limitations). Residential Zones: Prohibited except for special event or private catering (YMC 5.57.040(3)). Vehicle Travel Lane: Prohibited — no sales, display, or customers served (YMC 5.57.040(2)). School Buffer: 300 ft during session/events (unless school authorizes) (YMC 5.57.040(4)(a)). Similar-Goods Business Buffer: 100 ft from the entrance (YMC 5.57.040(4)(b)).

Operating in a vehicle travel lane (YMC 5.57.040(2)), in a residential zone outside an exempt event (YMC 5.57.040(3)), or within any of the YMC 5.57.040(4) buffer distances is a violation of YMC Chapter 5.57. Citations under YMC 5.52 (business license) and YMC 11.40.106.4 penalties may apply ($250 / $500 / $750 / $1,000 escalating). Health-code violations of WAC 246-215 are enforced by Yakima Health District and may result in state mobile-food-unit permit suspension or revocation.

The Bottom Line

Yakima'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 Yakima is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Yakima 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.