Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors in National City, CA (2026)
3 verified food trucks & mobile vendors rules for National City, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Food Truck Permits
In National City, each driver of a food vending vehicle, and each cook on a mobile food preparation unit, needs a nontransferable permit from the finance department for a nonrefundable thirty dollar fee, on top of the Title 6 business license. The vehicle also needs a valid certificate of inspection and must be lettered with the owner's details.
National City Food Vending Vehicle Permit Requirements
Significant RestrictionsNational City Municipal Code § 9.06.070
Each driver, and in the case of mobile food preparation units, each cook, shall obtain a nontransferable permit from the finance department. Such permit shall be displayed in a conspicuous place in or on the food vending vehicle during business hours. Application for driver's permits shall be made upon forms to be furnished by the finance department. The applicant shall file with his applicatio...
Vending Zones
In National City, a food vending vehicle cannot stop or park on a public street within five hundred feet of a school property boundary between seven a.m. and four p.m. on regular school days. On public thoroughfares a stop is capped at ten minutes, and no one can sell from a vehicle while on public property.
National City Food Truck Parking and Vending Rules
Significant RestrictionsNational City Municipal Code §§ 9.06.020 and 9.06.030
No person shall stop or park a food vending vehicle on a public street within five hundred feet of any school property boundary in the city between the hours of seven a.m. and four p.m. on regular school days. ... A.It is unlawful to stop or park a food vending vehicle on a public thoroughfare for the purpose of preparing, selling, giving away, displaying or offering for sale any food or bevera...
Sidewalk & Mobile Vending
In National City, sidewalk vendors need a city business license, a sidewalk vendor's license from the public works department, and a state seller's permit. Stationary vendors work only on sidewalks at least ten feet wide, between eight a.m. and ten p.m., and never within five feet of a crosswalk or fire hydrant. Fines for operating violations are capped at five hundred dollars.
Sidewalk Vending Rules in National City, CA
Significant RestrictionsNational City Municipal Code § 13.30.040
B.Stationary sidewalk vendors shall only be located on public sidewalks and pedestrian paths of not less than ten feet in width measured from the street-side edge of the sidewalk or from edge to edge of the path.C.Roaming sidewalk vendors may travel on public sidewalks and pedestrian paths of not less than four feet in width measured from the street-side edge of the sidewalk or from edge to edg...
Looking for San Diego County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement National City city rules.
Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors in San Diego County →