Mesa, AZ Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Food Truck Permits (2026)

Section 5-4-4(A) makes it "unlawful for a person to operate a mobile food unit or act as a mobile food vendor at any location within the City without a valid license," plus any other permits the business needs. § 28-101. Subsection (B) requires a separate license per unit unless several units share the same controlling persons and business entity, in which case one license covers all of them. Licenses run one year from issuance or renewal and are non-transferable; any attempted transfer voids the license and forfeits fees paid.

Applicants submit a complete application to the Licensing Administrator with fees, names and contact information for the applicant and each controlling person, a description of goods sold, a description/plate number/photo of each unit, a valid driver's license, City and State transaction-privilege-tax numbers, ADOT commercial-vehicle registration, and Maricopa County Environmental Services Department permits. Every application goes to the Police Department for a criminal-history review of the applicant and each controlling person. Renewal applications are due at least 45 calendar days before expiration or the license lapses and a new-license application is required.

Licensees must report any change to submitted information within 10 calendar days. The Licensing Administrator can refuse a new or renewal license for incomplete or false applications, unpaid fees, unresolved Chapter violations, outstanding City debt, noncompliance with state or county food-safety law, or specified felony convictions (fraud, theft, dangerous-drug, violent-crime, sexual-offense, or moral-turpitude offenses) within the preceding ten years. A narrow exemption in Subsection (I) excuses the City license for a vendor operating at up to four licensed special events per calendar year, provided any smoke- or grease-producing unit has passed its annual fire inspection.