Cary, NC Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Food Truck Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Cary LDO § 5.3.4(P)
- Permit term
- Up to one calendar year
- Operating hours
- 6:00 a.m. to midnight
- Distance from dwellings
- 150 feet minimum
- Max per lot
- Three food trucks
Summary
Cary's LDO requires food truck operators to secure an accessory use permit from the property owner for each site, valid up to one year, before selling from a mobile food vending vehicle.
(a) Permits Required 1. An accessory use permit per Section 3.5 shall be obtained by the property owner for any lot proposed to accommodate one (1) or more food truck businesses. A copy of the accessory use permit shall be kept in the food truck... 3. The accessory use permit shall be valid for up to one (1) calendar year and may be amended during the period of validity to remove or add specific food truck business(es) authorized to operate on the lot.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2023 S-87_S-57: Current through local ordinance 2022-Code-05, passed 11-17-2022 and effective 11-17-2022 | LDO: Current through local ordinance 2022-LDO-04, passed 11-17-22 and effective 11-17-22).
Full Breakdown
Under LDO § 5.3.4(P), a food truck operating on a developed lot in most non-residential and mixed-use districts needs an accessory use permit obtained by the property owner, valid for up to one calendar year, listing each food truck business and requiring proof of an NC Sales and Use Certificate and a Wake County Environmental Services Vending Permit. Trucks must sit at least 100 feet from another eating establishment or food truck (unless on the same lot) and 150 feet from any dwelling, may run only 6 a.m. to midnight, and must be removed rather than stored overnight on a public street. No more than three food trucks may operate on a single lot.
Violations & Fines
Operating a food truck without a valid accessory use permit, or violating siting/hour limits, is a zoning violation; Cary's Planning Department can require immediate cessation for grease or waste mishandling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do food trucks need a permit in Cary, NC?
How close can a Cary food truck park to a house?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cary
Compare Cary to another location·View the North Carolina 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 If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.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 Wake County handle food truck permits.