Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors in Kern County, CA (2026)
3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Kern County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Food Truck Permits
Every mobile food vehicle selling liquids or edibles in unincorporated Kern County needs a $15-a-year Chapter 5.32 license per cart, wagon or vehicle, on top of the county's general business license, unless the operator is only delivering farm products they raised to a store for resale.
Mobile Food Vehicle License in Kern County
Some RestrictionsKern County Code § 5.32.020
Every person engaged in the business of peddling, selling or delivering liquids or edibles for human consumption from packs, baskets, handcarts, wagons or other vehicles, either retail or wholesale, except persons selling or delivering, or both, to retail or wholesale establishments for resale, agricultural products raised by them, shall procure a license and pay a license fee of fifteen dollar...
Vending Zones
Street vendors and food peddlers who occupy private property in unincorporated Kern County for eight or more hours a day, on more than fourteen days in a calendar year, are running a commercial use under Zoning Ordinance Section 19.08.450 and can only do so in commercial or industrial districts. Shorter, occasional vending on private land falls outside that zoning trigger entirely.
Kern County Street Vendor Zoning Threshold
Some RestrictionsKern County Zoning Ordinance § 19.08.450
Any use of private property involving street vendors or food peddlers, as defined in Title 5 of the Kern County Ordinance Code, who individually, or in combination, occupy all or a portion of said property for a period of time of eight (8) hours or more on any calendar day for more than fourteen (14) total days in any given calendar year, shall be considered to be a commercial use of the proper...
Sidewalk & Mobile Vending
Mobile food vendors in unincorporated Kern County cannot park a cart, wagon or vehicle in one spot to sell food or drinks for more than 30 minutes in any 24-hour period, or return to that spot within 24 hours, unless they keep the area clean and either sell only sealed or dispensed food or provide handwashing facilities within 300 feet.
Sidewalk Vending Time Limit in Kern County
Some RestrictionsKern County Code § 5.32.060
A person engaging in the business of peddling, selling or delivering liquids or edibles for human consumption from packs, baskets, handcarts, wagons or other vehicles, either retail or wholesale, shall not remain or permit his pack, basket, handcart, wagon or other vehicle to remain in any one location for the purpose of sale or display of liquids or edibles for more than thirty (30) minutes du...
Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors by City in Kern County
2 cities in Kern County have their own food trucks & mobile vendors rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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