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Paulding County, GA Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Food Truck Permits (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Zoning districts allowed
NB, B-1, PSC, B-2, I-1 only
Hours window
No earlier than 6:30 a.m., ends by 12:30 a.m.
Setup limit
Arrive/leave within 30 minutes of operating
Insurance for amenity events
$1M per occurrence / $3M aggregate
Amenity-area duration
3 days/3 weekends monthly, 60 days/year cap

Summary

Mobile food-vending units in Paulding County need both a state health department license and a county business license under UDO Section 270-40, and they can only operate in specific commercial districts and locations. Units must arrive no more than 30 minutes before service, leave within 30 minutes of closing or by 12:30 a.m., and cannot use outdoor cooking, drive-throughs or amplified music.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Paulding County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

A mobile food-vending unit shall not arrive to operate at a permitted location more than 30 minutes prior to the time it intends to operate or prior to 6:30 am, whichever is later...A mobile food-vending unit shall not stay at a permitted location more than 30 minutes after it is done operating or later than 12:30 a.m. on any day, whichever is earlier.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 35).

Full Breakdown

01 limits mobile food-vending units to private property zoned NB, B-1, PSC, B-2 or I-1, plus a short list of specific sites: active construction projects of three acres or more with a current county building permit, county-sanctioned events on county-owned property, subdivision amenity areas for no more than three consecutive days and three weekends per month with a $1,000,000/$3,000,000 liability policy, and Silver Comet Trailhead locations. 02 requires a county business license obtained from the vendor's base location before operating, State Health Department licensing and current posted inspection for any unit selling cooked or prepared food, and review by both the Business License Division and the Planning and Zoning Division Manager.

" Outdoor cooking, outdoor food storage, drive-throughs and amplified music, except for ice cream trucks selling only ice cream, are all prohibited, and each unit must post its Occupational Tax receipt, approved locations list and Occupational Tax Permit. Residential-area approvals under the Amenity Area exception are valid for 30 days and capped at 60 days per location per year.

Violations & Fines

Failure of an owner or operator of a mobile vending unit to abide by the requirements and restrictions of Section 270-40.03, including operating outside the permitted hours, using outdoor cooking or storage, running a drive-through, or operating without the required business license and health inspection posted, constitutes a violation of Section 270-40 subject to Community Development Department enforcement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a business license to run a food truck in Paulding County?
Yes. Section 270-40.02 requires the person or business operating a mobile food-vending unit to hold a county business license from its base location, plus a Georgia Health Department license for any unit selling cooked or prepared food, with a current inspection sticker posted before it can operate anywhere in the county.
What zoning districts allow food trucks in Paulding County?
Section 270-40.01 restricts mobile food-vending units to private property zoned Neighborhood Business, General Business, Planned Shopping Center, Highway Business or Light Industrial, plus a handful of specific sites such as active construction projects, county-sanctioned events, subdivision amenity areas under strict day limits, and the Silver Comet Trailhead.
Can a food truck park anywhere it wants and stay all day?
No. Section 270-40.03 requires each unit to arrive no more than 30 minutes before it starts operating and no earlier than 6:30 a.m., and to leave within 30 minutes of closing or by 12:30 a.m. at the latest. Drive-throughs, outdoor cooking and amplified music are also banned.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Paulding County

All Paulding County rules

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