Apple Valley, MN Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Food Truck Permits (2026)

Section 155.362 of the Apple Valley Code of Ordinances starts from a prohibition. Unless another part of Chapter 155 specifically allows it, no vending cart or mobile food unit can operate for direct sale of food or beverage to the general public at any location in the City of Apple Valley, Dakota County, Minnesota. Three exceptions apply: a permitted outdoor commercial promotion, a registered vendor at a community festival or permitted temporary outdoor event, and a private event not open to the public where the host serves guests free and makes no direct sales, such as a graduation party, family reunion or company picnic. For events, the route to approval runs through the temporary outdoor event permit in § 155.361, whose application must list each vendor by business name, contact name, product and type of vending structure.

Once operating, the unit must meet ten conditions. It cannot park in a public or private street unless it is part of a permitted event and the Director of Public Works approves in writing. The Fire Chief or a designee inspects electrical and gas fixtures against the Minnesota State Fire Code and can order a unit to cease operation. A unit needs its Minnesota Department of Health license, if one is required, posted conspicuously. Gray water must be disposed of daily at events longer than one day and never into a storm drain or onto the ground. Detached signage is limited to one sandwich board sign not exceeding eight square feet, placed within ten feet of the unit. No music or amplified messages are allowed. Two refuse containers of at least 32 gallons each must sit within ten feet. Hood fire suppression systems must be tested and tagged, each unit needs a 2A:20BC extinguisher, a Class K extinguisher if deep frying, and extinguisher tags dated within the past 12 months. Tents over 200 square feet and canopies over 400 square feet need a building permit.

Storage is restricted too. A mobile food unit cannot be parked or stored on residential property, inside or outside a garage. It can be stored outdoors only on Business Park, I-1 or I-2 land, or a Planned Development for such uses, under a conditional use permit.