Alexandria, VA Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Food Truck Permits (2026)

Under Title 9 Chapter 15, the City of Alexandria Food Truck Ordinance, Sec. 9-15-8 requires all food truck vendors to obtain an annual food truck vendor permit from the city manager, except those vending only at a special event. Before issuing it, the city manager must confirm the truck and vendor comply with the chapter and administrative regulations, that all fees are paid, and that other required permits are in hand. Sec. 9-15-7 additionally requires a business license under Title 9 Chapter 1, a health permit under Title 11 Chapter 2, and a fire prevention permit where applicable.

The city manager may refuse a permit under Sec. 9-15-8(C) if the applicant received three or more notices of violation in the prior 12 months, had a permit suspended or revoked in that period, or submitted a fraudulent application. Operational rules in Sec. and bar more than six continuous hours of vending at one location; trucks cannot claim exclusive rights to a public parking spot, must fit within a marked space, and cannot block ingress, egress or fire lanes. Sec. 9-15-15 sets siting rules for designated on-street vending spots: streets must have at least 66 feet of right-of-way, no more than four spaces in a row, and locations must sit at least 20 feet from outdoor dining and 10 feet from intersections, crosswalks, driveways, bus stops, taxi stands or accessible parking spaces.