Atlanta, GA Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Food Truck Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Business license
- Required for all vendors
- Food permit fee
- $75.00 (Sec. 30-1486)
- Separation distance
- 200 ft from similar business
- Hours of operation
- 5:00 a.m.-2:00 a.m.
- Health certification
- Fulton or DeKalb County Health Dept.
Summary
Atlanta requires mobile food units on private property to get a city business license, written property-owner consent, a zoning-compliant use, and a $75 food vending permit from the police department's License and Permits Unit.
Persons conducting business from a mobile food unit on private property may conduct such business only in compliance with the following: (1) They must have the written expressed consent of the owner to use the business property on which they propose to operate. (2) They must have a valid city business license unless otherwise exempted by city ordinance. (3) The business use must be a use that is otherwise allowed within the zoning district in which the vendor proposes to operate.
Full Breakdown
Under Atlanta Code § 30-1471, anyone running a mobile food unit on private property must have the property owner's written consent, hold a valid city business license, and operate a use allowed in that zoning district. Vending must also follow Article XXIV's citywide rules: no operating within 200 feet of a stationary business selling similar products, 15 feet of intersections or crosswalks, or 15 feet of a building exit, and hours are capped at 5:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. A food permit (Sec. 30-1482(a)) requires county health department certification, Fulton or DeKalb, depending on where the truck sits, and costs $75 under Sec. 30-1486.
Violations & Fines
First conviction draws a $100-$1,000 fine plus costs, or up to 60 days in jail, per Sec. 30-1466. A fourth violation within 12 months triggers a court referral to the police chief for permit revocation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need the property owner's permission to park a food truck on private property in Atlanta?
How close can a food truck be to a restaurant selling similar food?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Atlanta
Compare Atlanta to another location·View the Georgia food trucks & mobile vendors overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Food Truck Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Fulton County handle food truck permits.