Medford, OR Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Food Truck Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Daily Pod max duration
- 5 consecutive days
- Daily Pod review
- Type I, ministerial
- Semi-Permanent Pod review
- Type III, quasi-judicial
- Max vendor unit length
- 20 feet
- Required permits
- City business license, County health permit, Fire permit
- Governing section
- Medford Code 10.829A
Summary
Medford regulates food trucks through Section 10.829A, which sorts mobile food vendor pods into Daily Pods (up to five consecutive days, Type I ministerial review) and Semi-Permanent Pods (Type III review), each limited to specific commercial and industrial zoning districts.
Mobile Food Vendor Pod Types. Mobile food vendor pods are categorized as either a Daily Pod or a Semi-Permanent Pod. Daily Pods. This type of pod provides for the placement of one or more temporary mobile food vendor on private property for no more than five consecutive days at a time. The site may be developed or vacant and must be paved. Semi-Permanent Pods. This type of pod provides for the placement of one or more temporary mobile food vendor on private property for periods of time exceeding 24-hours. Allowed Zoning Districts. Mobile food vendor pods are permitted in the following zoning districts: Commercial - Service/Professional (C-S/P), Neighborhood Commercial (C-N), Heavy Commercial (C-H), Community Commercial (C-C), Regional Commercial (C-R), Light-Industrial (I-L), General Industrial (I-G), and Public Parks (P-1).
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-32, passed May 6, 2026).
Full Breakdown
829A creates two categories of mobile food vendor pod. A Daily Pod places one or more temporary mobile food vendors on paved private property for no more than five consecutive days at a time and is approved by the Planning Director as a Type I, ministerial decision. A Semi-Permanent Pod runs longer than 24 hours, may include covered seating, food storage structures, or alcohol service, and requires Type III quasi-judicial review by the Site Plan and Architectural Commission, or by the Landmarks and Historic Preservation Commission if the site sits in a historic district.
Both pod types are limited to Commercial-Service/Professional, Neighborhood Commercial, Heavy Commercial, Community Commercial, Regional Commercial, Light-Industrial, General Industrial, and Public Parks zoning districts. Vendor units cannot exceed 20 feet in length excluding cabs, bumpers, and hitches, must keep wheels and tongues attached with tires inflated, and cannot occupy pedestrian walkways, required parking, fire lanes, or vision clearance triangles. 781. Operators need a City Business License, a Jackson County Environmental Health permit, and a Fire Department operational permit; semi-permanent pod structures also owe System Development Charges before building permits issue. Daily pods must vacate a location after their fifth consecutive day before returning to conduct business at the same spot.
Violations & Fines
Operating a mobile food vendor pod outside its permitted zoning districts, exceeding the five-consecutive-day limit for a Daily Pod without vacating the site, or operating a Semi-Permanent Pod without Type III approval and the required Business License, County health permit, and Fire Department operational permit places the vendor out of compliance with Section 10.829A and subject to the City's standard business license and code enforcement remedies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What permit does a food truck need to operate in Medford?
Where in Medford can a food truck legally set up?
How long can a food truck stay at one Medford location?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Medford
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