Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors in Wilmington, NC (2026)
2 verified food trucks & mobile vendors rules for Wilmington, North Carolina, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Food Truck Permits
Wilmington requires every mobile food unit operator to hold an annual permit from the city manager, issued for the September 1 to August 31 cycle under City Code Section 18-340(c)(8)i. Operators need signed property-owner approval for each site, and hours run only 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m.
Wilmington Mobile Food Unit Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsWilmington City Code § 18-340(c)(8)i
i.Mobile food unit.i.All mobile food unit operators shall obtain an annual permit from the city manager, unless otherwise exempted in this chapter. Permits shall be issued for the period beginning September 1 and ending August 31 of each year. This permit shall be posted in a visible location on the mobile food unit.ii.Mobile food unit operators shall have the signed approval of the property ow...
Vending Zones
Mobile food units are allowed in every nonresidential zoning district citywide, but the Central Business District adds tighter limits: a unit is capped at five consecutive hours per site, only one unit is allowed per site per day, and no single unit can work more than two sites in a day. Units also cannot set up within 75 feet of an open restaurant's front door.
Wilmington Mobile Food Vending Zone Rules
Some RestrictionsCity of Wilmington Land Development Code § 18-340(c)(8)(i)(iii), (v)
iii.Within the central business district mobile food units are subject to the following:a.Mobile food units are limited to a maximum of five (5) consecutive hours at a single location.b.No more than one (1) mobile food unit shall operate on an individual site per day.c.No mobile food unit shall operate on more than two (2) individual sites per day. ... v.Mobile food units shall not be located w...
Looking for New Hanover County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Wilmington city rules.
Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors in New Hanover County →