Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors in Downey, CA (2026)
3 verified food trucks & mobile vendors rules for Downey, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Food Truck Permits
Downey regulates food trucks and other mobile food facilities by adopting Los Angeles County's mobile food facility code by reference: § 4971 incorporates County Code Title 8, Chapter 8.04 and County Ordinance 2010-0045's certification requirements for mobile food facilities and mobile support units, with violations punishable by up to a $500 fine.
Downey Mobile Food Facility Permit Rule
Significant RestrictionsDowney, CA, Municipal Code § 4971 (Adoption by Reference of the Public Health Licenses Code of the County of Los Angeles)
Subject to the changes and amendments set forth in this chapter, the Los Angeles County Code, Title 8, Chapter 8.04, as amended through and including November 18, 2010, is hereby adopted by reference as the Public Health Licenses Code for the City of Downey (hereafter referred to as "Health Licenses Code"). Ordinance No. 2010-0045, adopted by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Octob...
Vending Zones
Downey requires a City permit before anyone vends food from a sidewalk cart, and bars stationary carts from every residential zone in the city. Vendors must also stay clear of a long list of location buffers, from 25 feet off intersections to 500 feet from schools during school hours.
Downey Sidewalk Vending Location Rules
Significant RestrictionsDowney, CA, Municipal Code § 6544.9(c), § 6544.10(a)
Sidewalk vendors shall not vend in the following locations: Within 25 feet of any street intersection; Within 25 feet of any traffic control device...Within 500 feet of any permitted certified farmers' market, permitted swap meet, or an area designated for use pursuant to a temporary special permit...Upon any sidewalk that is within 500 feet of the nearest property line of any property on which...
Sidewalk & Mobile Vending
Selling food or merchandise from a cart or one's person on a Downey sidewalk requires a permit from the Public Works Department under Municipal Code Section 6544.2, layered on top of a City business license, a seller's permit, and, for food vending, a Los Angeles County health permit. Roaming vendors may not work residential streets between 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m.
Downey Sidewalk Vending Permit Rules
Significant RestrictionsDowney, CA, Municipal Code § 6544.2
No person shall engage in, conduct, or carry on the business of sidewalk vending, or cause, permit or suffer a person to engage in, conduct, or carry on the business of sidewalk vending, without a permit issued under the provisions of this part. A sidewalk vending permit is not required for a certified farmers' market, swap meet, or any activity or event authorized by a temporary special permit.
Looking for Los Angeles County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Downey city rules.
Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors in Los Angeles County →