Vending Zones: Apex vs Cary
How do vending zones rules compare between Apex, NC and Cary, NC?
Apex and Cary have similar restriction levels.
Apex, NC
Wake County
Apex Town Code Sec. 13-62 limits Mobile Food Vendors to (a) private property with written owner permission, (b) Town-owned property with the Town Manager's written approval, and (c) parks under Sec. 13-52(13) and 13-53(b). Mobile Food Vendors are prohibited in residentially zoned areas, on any public right-of-way, required buffer, paved street, ADA space, or fire lane. Sec. 13-63 sets operating hours of 6 a.m. to midnight, requires a 10-ft clearance from buildings, vehicles, and combustibles, caps onboard LP gas at 200 gallons, prohibits outdoor seating tents, and requires a Town fire inspection.
View full Apex rules →Cary, NC
Wake County
Wake County UDO restricts mobile food units to commercial-zoned parking lots and special events. Operation on residentially zoned vacant property is prohibited. Each municipality (Raleigh, Cary, Apex) sets its own additional zoning rules.
View full Cary rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Apex | Cary |
|---|---|---|
| Code Section | Apex Town Code Sec. 13-62 (Location); Sec. 13-63 (Operating Standards) | - |
| Allowed Locations | Private property w/ owner permission; Town-owned w/ Mgr approval | - |
| Residential Zones | Prohibited (Sec. 13-62(c)) | - |
| Right-of-Way / Streets / ADA / Fire Lane | Prohibited (Sec. 13-62(d)) | - |
| Operating Hours | 6:00 a.m. to midnight (Sec. 13-63(a)) | - |
| Clearance | 10 ft from buildings, vehicles, combustibles (Sec. 13-63(e)) | - |
| LP Gas Cap | 200 gallons aggregate (Sec. 13-63(f)) | - |
| Outdoor Seating | Prohibited (Sec. 13-63(k)) | - |
| Drive-Through | Prohibited (Sec. 13-63(n)) | - |
| Restaurant Buffer | No fixed Town-wide buffer in Town Code | - |
| Allowed zone | - | Commercial only |
| Vacant residential | - | Prohibited |
| Special events | - | Permit required |
| City permits | - | Separate |
| Code | - | Wake UDO Art. 4, 11 |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Apex FAQ
Where can a food truck legally park in Apex, NC?
Per Town Code Sec. 13-62, on private property with the property owner's written permission, or on Town-owned property with prior written approval of the Town Manager. Mobile Food Vendors are prohibited from vending in residentially zoned areas, on any public right-of-way, required buffer, paved street, ADA space, or fire lane, and may not block any building entrance / exit or interfere with pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
What are the food-truck operating hours in Apex?
6:00 a.m. to midnight, per Town Code Sec. 13-63(a). Vendors must also keep a minimum of 10 feet of clearance from buildings, vehicles, and combustibles (Sec. 13-63(e)), display the permit in clear view of customers (Sec. 13-63(q)), avoid continuous amplified sound (Sec. 13-63(l)), and have a Town Fire Marshal inspection done before operating (Sec. 13-63(j)). No outdoor seating tents or drive-through windows are allowed.
Cary FAQ
Can I park a food truck in my friend's residential driveway?
No — residential zones are off-limits for food truck sales. The vehicle can be stored but not operated for sales there.
What about farmers' markets?
Special event permits cover farmers' markets; check with both Wake County EH&S and the event organizer for current rules.
Are there hour restrictions?
Wake County itself doesn't cap hours, but each city does. Raleigh's MFU ordinance sets hours and separation distances from restaurants.
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