Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors in Waukegan, IL (2026)
3 verified food trucks & mobile vendors rules for Waukegan, Illinois, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Food Truck Permits
Operating a mobile food preparer or mobile food dispenser in Waukegan requires a one-year mobile food vendor license under § 14-481. Applicants must show a current Lake County Health Department license, a diagram of the unit, and, if using propane or natural gas, at least $350,000 in commercial liability insurance.
Waukegan Mobile Food Vendor License Requirement
Some RestrictionsWaukegan Code of Ordinances §§ 14-481, 14-483
No person shall engage in the business of mobile food preparer or mobile food dispenser without first obtaining a mobile food vendor license under the terms of this division. All such licenses, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be in effect for a period of one year. ... Applicants for mobile food vendor licenses must provide evidence at the time of application of insurance covering the mo...
Vending Zones
Waukegan confines licensed mobile food dispensing units to specific marked locations and hours under § 14-484(a): the Municipal Beach 8 a.m.-8 p.m. daily, private property with owner consent 8 a.m.-10 p.m., and the downtown entertainment district (Grand Avenue to Belvidere Road, West Street to Sheridan Road) 8 a.m.-10:30 p.m., trucks gone by 11:30 p.m.
Waukegan Mobile Food Vendor Authorized Locations
Some RestrictionsWaukegan Code of Ordinances § 14-484(a)
Licensed mobile food dispensing units (Class I and II) shall be permitted to park/place and operate their business only in designated parking spaces and areas clearly marked by the city, in the following authorized locations, only at authorized times... Waukegan Municipal Beach, 7 days a week, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., subject to a vendor agreement with the City of Waukegan. ... Private propertie...
Sidewalk & Mobile Vending
Waukegan bans outdoor sales, including pushcarts and mobile or stationary stands, by anyone selling under the home solicitation and peddlers article (§§ 14-606-14-611), per § 14-612. The ban does not touch mobile food vendors licensed under § 14-481, so a licensed food truck may still vend outdoors under its own division's rules.
Waukegan Bars Outdoor Peddler Sales, Exempts Food Trucks
Heavy RestrictionsWaukegan Code of Ordinances § 14-612
Under no circumstances may the sale of items under sections 14-606--14-611 take place in the out-of-doors. This shall include pushcarts, mobile carts, mobile or stationary stands, or other outside sales. This requirement shall not affect the provisions of section 14-481 herein regarding mobile food vendors.
Looking for Lake County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Waukegan city rules.
Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors in Lake County →