Kern County, CA Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Food Truck Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Vehicle license fee
- $15 per year, per vehicle
- General peddler license fee
- $10/year or $3/quarter
- Health inspection
- Required before license issues
- Exemption
- Selling own-raised farm products for resale
- Minimum fine
- $100 for operating without a license
Summary
Every mobile food vehicle selling liquids or edibles in unincorporated Kern County needs a $15-a-year Chapter 5.32 license per cart, wagon or vehicle, on top of the county's general business license, unless the operator is only delivering farm products they raised to a store for resale.
Every person engaged in the business of peddling, selling or delivering liquids or edibles for human consumption from packs, baskets, handcarts, wagons or other vehicles, either retail or wholesale, except persons selling or delivering, or both, to retail or wholesale establishments for resale, agricultural products raised by them, shall procure a license and pay a license fee of fifteen dollars ($15.00) per year for each pack, basket, handcart, wagon or other vehicle.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 59 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
020 requires anyone peddling, selling or delivering liquids or edibles for human consumption from a pack, basket, handcart, wagon or other vehicle in the unincorporated county to buy a $15 annual license for each conveyance, whether the sales are retail or wholesale. The only carve-out is for a person delivering agricultural products they raised themselves to a retail or wholesale establishment for resale. 04, so a mobile food operator also has to satisfy the county's general business-license process, including the sheriff's background review. 050. 030 at $10 a year or $3 a quarter. 060, which restricts how long a cart or truck can sit at one curb location.
Violations & Fines
Operating a mobile food vehicle without the Section 5.32.020 license is unlawful under Section 5.32.070, which treats each day of the violation as a separate offense and sets a $100 minimum fine specifically for violating the vehicle-license requirement. The health officer can also withhold or effectively pull the license if the vehicle fails to stay in the sanitary condition required by Sections 5.32.040 and 5.32.050.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a food truck license in unincorporated Kern County?
Does my food truck need a health inspection before I can get licensed?
Is there any exemption from the food truck license fee?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kern County
California rules heatmap·Compare Kern County to another location·View the California 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.