Pinellas County, FL Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Food Truck Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Approval required
- Under Table 138-355 Table of Uses
- Length limit
- 26 feet maximum
- Indoor seating
- Not permitted; walk-up only
- Fixed/parked units
- Also need § 138-3356 temporary-use permit
- Hurricane rule
- Must relocate to secured site during warnings
- Max penalty
- $500 fine and/or 60 days jail
Summary
Every food cart or truck operating in unincorporated Pinellas County needs zoning approval under Code § 138-3247(c)(1)b, tied to the county's Table of Uses and, where the unit sits on a lot for any length of time, the temporary-use rules in § 138-3356. Units must stay mobile-ready, can't exceed 26 feet, and can't offer customers indoor seating.
(1)The followings standards are applicable to all food carts/food trucks.a.Food cart/food truck units are intended to be temporary in nature but may be approved at a specific location for long lengths of time. Food cart/food truck units shall remain in a condition that allow for easy mobility to be removed from the site.b.Food carts/food trucks uses require approval pursuant to Table 138-355 — Table of Uses for Zoning Districts and shall be subject to section 138-3356, temporary uses and structures, as applicable.c.Food cart/food truck units shall not exceed 26 feet in length.d.Food carts/food truck units shall not have any internal floor space available to customers.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 124).
Full Breakdown
Section 138-3247 covers any food cart, truck or similar structure that sells prepared food, beverages or consumables from a temporary site in the unincorporated county; the standards apply whether the unit is parked long-term or moves from spot to spot. Subsection (c)(1)b makes approval mandatory: the use has to be allowed for that zoning district under Table 138-355, the county's Table of Uses for Zoning Districts, and where the unit is fixed or parked at one location it's also subject to the temporary-use permitting in § 138-3356.
Beyond the approval requirement, (c)(1) sets baseline design limits that apply to every unit: it must stay in a condition that lets it be moved off-site easily, can't run longer than 26 feet, and can't offer any interior floor space for customers, keeping the format strictly walk-up service. For safety, units and their gear (tents, fuel tanks, cables, awnings) must be relocated to a secured location whenever a hurricane warning is in effect, and can't be left parked or unanchored in open lots or fields during that time.
If the unit is fixed or parked at a specific site for any length of time under (c)(2), a building permit is separately required for any permanent structure built to support it, and sites hosting more than one unit must provide adequate customer and employee parking under the county's general parking standards.
Violations & Fines
Operating a food cart or truck without the required Table 138-355 zoning approval, or without the § 138-3356 temporary-use permit where it applies, is a violation of the Land Development Code. Under the code's general penalty for Land Development Code violations, that's punishable by a fine of up to $500, up to 60 days in the county jail, or both, with each day of continued operation a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to operate a food truck in unincorporated Pinellas County?
Is there a size limit on food trucks?
What has to happen to my food truck before a hurricane?
What's the penalty for running a food truck without approval?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pinellas County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Pinellas County to another location·View the Florida food trucks & mobile vendors overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.