Food trucks in Lodi require a City of Lodi business license, a San Joaquin County Environmental Health Mobile Food Facility (MFF) permit, and must operate from a permitted commissary. Lodi currently caps food trucks at 25 with a waiting list, and ongoing 2024–2025 zoning amendments to LMC Title 17 are adding 'Food Truck Park', 'Food Truck Pod/Hub', and 'Food Truck Commissary' as defined land uses.
Mobile food vending in Lodi operates under three layers. First, the operator must obtain a City of Lodi business license through the Finance Department (lodi.hdlgov.com/Home/Home/BusinessLicense). Second, every truck must hold a current Mobile Food Facility permit issued by San Joaquin County Environmental Health Department under California Retail Food Code (Cal. Health & Safety Code §113700 et seq.) — this requires plan check, vehicle inspection, and a permitted commissary base of operations for daily cleaning, water exchange, and waste disposal. Lodi specifically requires that 'no on-site food truck storage [is allowed] unless a licensed commissary is provided.' Third, location of operation must comply with Lodi Municipal Code Title 17 (Development Code). Lodi has historically capped active food trucks at 25 city-wide with a waiting list of at least 10 operators. The Plan Lodi 2024 Code Amendments project is adding three new defined land-use categories — 'Food Truck Park,' 'Food Truck Pod/Hub,' and 'Food Truck Commissary' — to Title 17 to formally accommodate clustered food-truck operations. Until those amendments are codified, food trucks operate under temporary use permits (LMC Chapter 17.40) and the long-standing cap administered by City staff.
Operating without a Lodi business license is a misdemeanor under LMC Title 5 with fines up to $1,000 per day. Operating without a San Joaquin County MFF permit violates Cal. Health & Safety Code §114387 — fine $25–$1,000 per day plus immediate impound of the unit. Health Code violations may also trigger immediate closure (red-tag) by SJCEHD inspectors. Violating zoning rules (operating from a non-permitted location) is enforced through Lodi's Code Enforcement graduated process — Courtesy Notice, Notice of Violation, then Administrative Citation under LMC Title 1.
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