Nashville, TN Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Food Truck Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permitting agency
- NDOT, Metro Transportation Dept.
- Covers
- Vending from trucks in public right-of-way
- Rules set by
- Traffic and parking commission
- Without a permit
- Metro Code violation, standard penalties
Summary
Selling food from a truck parked in Metro Nashville's public rights-of-way requires a truck vending permit from NDOT under the Metro Code's dedicated truck vending permit program, with operating rules set by the traffic and parking commission.
Notwithstanding all other provisions within the Metropolitan Code to the contrary, the Metropolitan Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure ("NDOT") is hereby authorized to administer and enforce a truck vending permit program to allow vendors to operate, park, and sell food, beverages, and other merchandise, from trucks or other motor vehicles, within the metropolitan government's public rights-of-way ("truck vending permit program").B.Notwithstanding all other provisions within the Metropolitan Code to the contrary, the traffic and parking commission is hereby authorized to establish rules and regulations to govern the truck vending permit program.C.Any party vending from a motor vehicle within the metropolitan government's public rights-of-way, who does not have in place a current truck vending permit from NDOT, shall be deemed to have committed a violation of the Metropolitan Code and shall be subject to all applicable penalties provided for violations of the Metropolitan Code.D.This subsection shall not apply to truck vendors who operate outside of the public right-of-way. (Ord. BL2024-391 § 1, 2024)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 53 | Charter: Republication 9).
Full Breakdown
Metro's Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure (NDOT) administers a truck vending permit program covering any vendor who operates, parks, and sells food, beverages, or merchandise from a truck or other motor vehicle within the metropolitan government's public rights-of-way. The traffic and parking commission is authorized to set the program's governing rules and regulations. A vendor selling from a vehicle in the right-of-way without a current NDOT truck vending permit is deemed to have violated the Metro Code. The program's reach stops at the public right-of-way, trucks operating entirely on private property fall outside this section, and it doesn't extend to Davidson County's six satellite cities, which enforce their own separate municipal codes.
Violations & Fines
Vending from a motor vehicle in Metro's public right-of-way without a current NDOT truck vending permit is a Metro Code violation, subject to all penalties applicable under the code.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do food trucks need a permit to sell in Nashville?
Who enforces Nashville's food truck permit program?
Does this cover Belle Meade, Oak Hill, or other satellite cities?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Nashville
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