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Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors in Gary, IN (2026)

2 verified food trucks & mobile vendors rules for Gary, Indiana, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Food Truck Permits

Gary calls a temporary mobile food operation tied to a fair, carnival, circus, or public exhibition an "itinerant restaurant," and City Code § 24-70 makes it unlawful to run one without a permit from the health officer, posted where customers can see it. The permit covers only the single event; a separate annual license from the city controller is also required under § 24-71.

Gary Itinerant Restaurant Permit Rule

Some Restrictions

Gary Municipal Code §§ 24-69, 24-70(a)

Itinerant restaurant means one operating for a temporary period, in connection with a fair, carnival, circus, public exhibition, or other similar gathering. ... (a)It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a restaurant or itinerant restaurant in the city, who does not possess a valid permit from the health officer. The permit shall be posted in a conspicuous place in the restaurant or itin...

Vending Zones

A mobile food vendor in the City of Gary qualifies as a transient merchant and must keep 1,500 feet from other transient-merchant businesses, stay 20 feet off any curb, sidewalk or road shoulder, and skip state or federal highways unless off-street parking exists; vendors who peddle without a vehicle cannot operate in the B2 or B3 business districts at all.

Gary Mobile Food Vending Location Limits

Significant Restrictions

Gary Municipal Code § 10-265(a)(1)-(3), (b)(2)

(1)No two businesses operated by transient merchants may be operated within 1,500 feet of each other.(2)No businesses operated by transient merchants may be located on state roads or federal highways unless off-street parking exists.(3)No businesses operated by transient merchants may be located within 20 feet of the shoulder of the road or street; or if a curb exists, within 20 feet of the cur...

Looking for Lake County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Gary city rules.

Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors in Lake County