Pismo Beach, CA Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Food Truck Permits (2026)

Section 12.22.020 of the Pismo Beach Municipal Code makes the permit mandatory. It is the permit the code prints for mobile food and merchandise vending on city sidewalks, and the carts it covers are capped at four (4) feet in each dimension under § 12.22.070. No person, for themselves or anyone else, can engage in sidewalk vendor activities in the city without first applying for and receiving a sidewalk vendor permit from the Administrative Services Department. The application is a written form filed with that department, with a nonrefundable application fee set by City Council resolution, and it must give an address where the applicant consents to receive service of process.

A permit is valid for the business license year, October 1st through September 30th, and expires on the anniversary of its issuance. Renewal is on a city form filed before the active permit and business license expire. Permits are non-transferable, and any change in ownership or operation of a sidewalk vendor business requires a new permit.

Under § 12.22.030 the Administrative Services Director issues the permit only after finding, among other things, that the vendor carries insurance with policy limits not less than $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate naming the city as an additional insured, holds a business license under Chapter 5.04, and holds a valid California Department of Tax and Fee Administration seller's permit. The Director also checks that earlier administrative fines are paid and that no permit was revoked within the past twelve (12) months.

Caps and exclusions matter. The Director authorizes no more than five (5) concurrent permits for stationary food sales in all city parks combined, and issues no permit for stationary vending in city parks in the Pier Zone or on the City Pier or its adjacent boardwalk. Under § 12.22.040, any person or entity that maintains a physical location for a business within the city is ineligible to apply. A denial is appealed to the City Manager by written notice filed within ten (10) days following service of the decision, with the appeal fee set by City Council resolution.