Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors in Knoxville, TN (2026)
3 verified food trucks & mobile vendors rules for Knoxville, Tennessee, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Food Truck Permits
Knoxville requires every food truck to obtain a $200 mobile food unit permit before vending, with a separate $75 temporary permit for one-off events.
Knoxville Mobile Food Unit Permit
Significant RestrictionsKnoxville Code of Ordinances § 16-561(a), (e) (Ord. No. O-55-2016, § 1, 4-26-16)
Mobile food unit permit required. A mobile food unit permit ("unit permit") is required by all vendors in order to vend or operate in the city. A unit permit is required for each MFU and the unit permit is non-transferrable. The unit permit shall be prominently displayed on the MFU...Fees. An application for a unit permit under this article shall be accompanied by a fee in the amount of two hun...
Vending Zones
Knoxville limits mobile food vending on private property to commercial, industrial, office, and open-space zones; residential districts allow it only for sponsored neighborhood events.
Knoxville Food Truck Zoning Districts
Significant RestrictionsKnoxville Code of Ordinances § 16-571(4)
Mobile vending on private property is permitted only in commercial districts, industrial districts, office districts, open space districts, and form based code districts (collectively, the "allowed non-residential districts")... In residential zones, MFUs are permitted to operate only as part of an event that is sponsored or hosted by a neighborhood association, by a homeowners' association, a ...
Sidewalk & Mobile Vending
Mobile food units operating from Knoxville's designated sidewalk vending zones cannot shrink the clear pedestrian path below six feet, and any awning or canopy must clear the sidewalk by at least six feet eight inches. The rule sits inside a broader set of placement, zoning and permit standards for mobile food vending in the public right-of-way.
Knoxville Sidewalk Clearance Rule For Food Trucks
Some RestrictionsKnoxville Code of Ordinances § 16-571(13)
(13)Obstruction of vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Placement of MFUs and any devices related to the MFU shall not obstruct or impede pedestrian or vehicular traffic, access to driveways, and sight distance for drivers. Mobile food vending from the zones shall not reduce the clear pedestrian path of travel on the sidewalk to less than six (6) feet. All awnings or canopies of the MFU shall be a...
Looking for Knox County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Knoxville city rules.
Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors in Knox County →