Decatur, AL Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Food Truck Permits (2026)

Article X of Chapter 25 of the Decatur City Code regulates mobile food kiosks, units and sites, with section 25-198 listing the operating requirements. Under subsection (1), a City of Decatur business license is required and must be displayed so it can be easily seen, and on a multi-unit site each unit carries its own license. Food preparation is regulated by the applicable county health department, and a written permit or letter of authorization plus proof of inspection must be posted at all times (subsection 5).

Before first use, the city fire marshal must inspect the unit or site (subsection 15). A unit with a fire suppression hood system must keep current inspection or test records, and a pressurized fuel system or container must meet fire and explosion safety standards (subsection 14). Wastewater is subject to federal, state and local rules, and preapproval from Decatur Utilities is required (subsection 16). The vendor must give the Revenue Department written permission of the property owner with the site coordinator's vendor list, and a signed and approved temporary street barricade permit is required when the site is a closed public right-of-way (subsection 6).

Approval runs through the planning department. Under § 25-197, a site on private property or in the special vending area needs administrative approval from the planning department with concurrence from the building, revenue, fire and police departments, requested at least 48 hours before operating. A site in a city park is approved by the parks and recreation department instead. Caterers and jobsite units are exempt.

On the job, units may operate from 6:00 am to 12:00 am, must be removed from the premises each night unless a multi-day special event has security and safety provisions on file, must provide a trash receptacle within three feet of the unit, and must keep a ten-foot radius clean. Only signage attached to the unit is allowed, no outdoor loudspeaker or music can be audible, and cooking happens inside the primary unit only, with no outside grills. Vendors cannot rent, lease or sublet an approved site or space.