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

Columbia County's mobile vendor rules, adopted under Ordinance No. 17-01 in March 2017, apply to any mobile food, retail, or service unit operating at one location for more than two consecutive days. Before setting up, the operator must obtain a mobile vending permit from the county, and the certificate must stay attached to the unit in plain view, listing the current owner's name, mailing address, and phone number. Only food, non-alcoholic beverages, clothing, clothing accessories, and related items may be sold; the vendor must have written permission from the property owner or representative, which is automatically revoked, taking the vending permit with it, if that permission is withdrawn.

Parking required for the host business's own customers can only be minimally affected by the truck's footprint. Signage is limited to the vehicle itself plus one sandwich board no larger than 12 square feet and no taller than 40 inches, placed within 50 feet of the unit on the same property, never on a sidewalk or in the right-of-way. The vendor must supply trash receptacles for customers and haul them away every day the unit operates. Mobile food vendors also need a valid mobile food service permit from the Columbia County Health Department and must carry a county occupational tax certificate.

A health violation notice from any Georgia agency that remains uncorrected at reinspection triggers automatic revocation of the vending permit. Vendors changing locations must first notify the county's licensing and permitting department and submit the required property-owner permissions and a site plan for the new spot.