Ames, IA Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Food Truck Permits (2026)

Sec. 22.12 of the Ames code defines a Mobile Vending Vehicle as a motorized structure used for vending ice cream or similar frozen desserts from the public streets, and confines it to a Mobile Vending Location approved in writing by the City Manager or designee; the vehicle is flatly prohibited from operating on sidewalks, alleys, walkways or any bicycle lane right-of-way. Sec. 22.14 requires a vending permit before selling anything from a street, sidewalk, alley or City lot, listing the Mobile Vending Vehicle-Ice Cream Truck as one of seven regulated permit categories alongside vending carts, vendor persons, sidewalk sales, newspaper dispensers and sidewalk cafes.

Sec. 22.15 confines general sidewalk vending to the Downtown Service Center, Campustown Service Center and Village-Town Center zoning districts, but allows ice cream vending vehicles on public streets citywide except the Hospital-Medical zoning district. Applications go through the City Clerk's office to the City Manager or designee under Sec. 22.16, and the City will not issue a permit any earlier than three business days after receiving the application; competing applications for the same location are awarded first come, first served under Sec. 22.17. A Mobile Vending Vehicle-Ice Cream Truck permit runs for up to one year under Sec.

22.18(1). The City Manager or designee may revoke or deny any vending permit under Sec. 22.20 for public-safety reasons, an incomplete or fraudulent application, a permit already revoked within the preceding two years, an outstanding arrest warrant, or cancelled insurance, and a denied or revoked applicant can appeal in writing to the City Council within twenty working days under Sec. 22.23. Vendors of food and beverages must also meet Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals health and sanitation standards under Sec. 22.28.