Madison issues mobile vending licenses through the Clerk's Office under MGO 9.13. Annual fee ~$500-$1,000. Also requires WI DATCP Mobile Restaurant license. Sidewalk and street vending zones regulated.
Madison General Ordinances 9.13 (Street Vending) governs mobile food vending. Operators need a Madison Mobile Vending License issued by the City Clerk's Office; separate categories exist for street vending carts (primarily pedestrian-oriented, State Street Mall, Library Mall, Capitol Square) and mobile food trucks (vehicle-based, operating in designated zones). Annual fees range approximately $500 for pushcarts to $1,000+ for trucks with reserved premium sites. Lottery or scored allocation determines vending site assignments in high-demand downtown areas; the Vending Oversight Committee administers. State-level licensing: Wisconsin DATCP Mobile Restaurant license under ATCP 75, issued after vehicle inspection by Public Health Madison & Dane County. Seller's permit from WI Department of Revenue for sales tax. Trucks must return to a licensed commissary daily for cleaning, water fill, and wastewater disposal. Operating hours vary by site; most State Street vending runs 10 AM-9 PM.
Operating without license: $500 forfeiture + closure. Site violation: $100-$300. DATCP violations: state enforcement + suspension.
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