Erie, PA Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Food Truck Permits (2026)

Article 313, Peddlers and Sidewalk Vendors, makes it unlawful to engage in the business of peddler or sidewalk vendor within the City without first obtaining a license (§ 313.02); the article's VENDOR definition covers anyone selling food, beverages or merchandise on public streets or sidewalks from a stand or motor vehicle. Applicants file a sworn application with the Bureau of Licensing giving their name and address, a description of the goods sold, a photograph taken within the prior 60 days, a description of any vehicle used, the proposed vending location or general area, a statement of prior convictions, and a statement from the Erie County Health Department, dated within 10 days of filing, certifying the applicant is free of infectious, contagious or communicable disease.

Applicants must also carry liability insurance naming the City as an additional insured, with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 general aggregate, reviewed by the Office of the Solicitor (§ 313.03). The filing fee is $200, and a license runs from January 1 to December 31 of that year, with renewal due at least 30 days before expiration (§§ 313.03(b), 313.08). Farmers selling their own produce and nonprofit or charitable vendors are exempt from the fee but must otherwise follow every provision of Article 313 (§ 313.07).

Vendors must display the license conspicuously at all times (§ 313.06) and are barred from storing a stand overnight on a street or sidewalk, leaving trash behind, or using loud speakers or noisemakers to attract customers (§ 313.05). Separately, Article 1129's Quality of Life Ticketing Program defines MOBILE VENDOR and treats operating as a peddler or mobile vendor without a valid license as QOL-29, and operating an inoperable food cart, stand or station as QOL-28.