Arvada, CO Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Food Truck Permits (2026)

Arvada regulates mobile food and retail vending under Land Development Code Section 3-1-4-5, part of the Temporary Uses division. A vendor cannot operate without first obtaining a City of Arvada business license and either a Food Truck Permit (food vendors) or a Retail Vending Truck Permit (retail vendors); the approved temporary use permit must stay permanently displayed in the food handling or retail area of the truck. Vending is allowed on private property under the Temporary Uses by Zoning District rules in Section 3-1-4-2, in any park or public space if the entity that owns or controls it consents, and in a public street right-of-way only when that street is closed to traffic for a permitted Special Event.

unless the temporary use permit sets a different window. Trucks cannot obstruct motorist visibility, parking lot circulation, or access to a public street, alley, or sidewalk, and must sit at least 50 feet from any residential use or a mixed-use building with ground-floor residential units, measured from the truck to the nearest property line. On private property, the operator needs the property owner's prior written permission and must park on a paved surface outside the right-of-way. Operators must store and daily dispose of all trash and litter, may not discharge liquid wastes other than clean ice melt from the vehicle, and cannot wash the truck on site.

Every operator must also hold a Health Department Certificate from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to run a mobile retail food establishment, in addition to any other state or local agency approvals.