Mountain View, CA Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Food Truck Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Health permit
- Santa Clara County EH
- Business license
- Required from city
- Commissary rule
- Daily return required
- SB 946 scope
- Sidewalk vendors protected
- School proximity
- 100 ft special auth
Summary
Food trucks in Mountain View need a Santa Clara County Environmental Health Mobile Food Facility permit plus a city business license. SB 946 limits the city's ability to restrict sidewalk vending locations.
Existing law provides for the regulation of microenterprise home kitchen operations and limits those operations to not serving more than 30 individual meals per day and not more than 60 individual meals per week and to no more than $50,000 in verifiable gross annual sales, as adjusted for inflation. Existing law authorizes the local enforcement agency to decrease the limit on the number of individual meals prepared based on the food preparation capacity of the operation.
Full Breakdown
Mountain View food truck and mobile food facility operators must hold a valid Santa Clara County Environmental Health Mobile Food Facility Permit, pass annual commissary inspections, and carry a city Business License. Trucks must park in permitted locations and may not block sidewalks, bike lanes, or fire access. California Health and Safety Code Section 114315 requires trucks to return to an approved commissary daily for water refill, waste disposal, and food prep. Senate Bill 946 (the Safe Sidewalk Vending Act) restricts city authority over sidewalk food vendors but does not preempt zoning rules for vehicle-based vendors. Food trucks at private commercial sites require property owner permission and must comply with host site parking requirements. Operating within 100 feet of a school during school hours requires special authorization.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a food truck operate in a Mountain View park?
Does SB 946 cover food trucks?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Mountain View
California rules heatmap·Compare Mountain View to another location·View the California food trucks & mobile vendors overview
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Food Truck Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Santa Clara County handle food truck permits.