Clayton County, GA Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Food Truck Permits (2026)

The Food Truck Business Ordinance applies throughout unincorporated Clayton County and defines a food truck business as any food business run out of a motorized truck-based vehicle or a trailer. To operate legally, a business needs an occupational tax certificate, issued by whichever jurisdiction the vendor's business is based in, and must supply Clayton County Community Development with supporting documentation: a valid driver's license, current vehicle registration, valid vehicle insurance, and any state or federal license the business needs to operate. That certificate has to be displayed in the truck's or trailer's front window any time it is in use, not just kept on file.

The ordinance treats this as an annual regulatory permit: the certificate authorizes the business to be based out of a truck, van, bus or towed trailer; to work festivals, farmer's markets, private parties and appointments; to conduct retail sales of consumer products; to park at the owner's residence when not operating, as long as the vehicle does not exceed a Class 2 designation and that is otherwise allowed under county rules; to operate on commercial property with the property owner's written, notarized permission; and to operate on residential property by appointment.

Sale of items regulated by the Bureau of Tobacco, Alcohol, Firearms and Explosives, and sale of fireworks, are both off-limits for a licensed food truck regardless of the certificate.