Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors in Merced County, CA (2026)
2 rules for unincorporated Merced County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Food Truck Permits
Merced County requires every mobile food preparation unit and food vehicle operating in the unincorporated area to hold a valid Health Permit of Operation issued by the County Health Officer before serving any food, under County Code § 9.42.060.
Merced County Mobile Food Vehicle Permits
Some RestrictionsMerced County Code § 9.42.060 (Permits Required)
No person shall maintain any of the following establishments, businesses or activities without a valid Health Permit of operation: A. Restaurant B. Grocery Store C. Bakery D. Food Processing Establishment E. Food Storage Warehouse F. Mobile Food Preparation Unit G. Itinerant Restaurant H. Vending Machines I. Food Vehicle J. Produce Stand K. Commissary L. Temporary Food Facility
Vending Zones
Merced County's zoning code splits food trucks into two classes: semi-mobile vendors serving one site a day need an Administrative Permit and can stay up to 16 hours, while fully mobile vendors moving between multiple sites daily need no land use permit but are capped at one hour per stop.
Merced County Mobile Food Vendor Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsMerced County Zoning Code Section 18.60.260
In zones where allowed in compliance with Article 2 (Zones, Allowable Uses, and Development Standards), semi-mobile food vendors shall be allowed subject to the requirements of this Zoning Code and all the following standards ... Not exceed 16 hours a day on site. ... Mobile food vendors that move to more than one site daily shall be: 1. Limited to a maximum of one hour at any one site. 2. Do n...
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