Pontiac, MI Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Food Truck Permits (2026)

Article XIXa of the Pontiac City Code, Sections 26-1030 through 26-1037, is the City of Pontiac Mobile Food Vendor Ordinance. Section 26-1033 defines its scope to cover any vendor cooking, preparing and distributing food or beverages to the public, requiring every site where a mobile food vendor operates to obtain a mobile food vendor permit from the Planning Department under Zoning Ordinance Section 2.544 and an annual inspection from the Waterford Regional Fire Department; stationary carts and ice cream trucks that move every 15 minutes are exempt.

Section 26-1034 makes operating without a license unlawful for any person or organization, though religious, charitable and nonprofit groups with 501(c)(3) status have their fees waived. The written application to the Planning Division must give the applicant's name and business address, the vehicle's year, make, model and dimensions, capped at 36 feet long and nine feet wide, the proposed hours and area of operation, and proof of a $2,000,000.00 general liability policy naming the City as an additional insured, plus a $1,000,000.00 auto liability policy if a vehicle is used.

Each license expires December 31 of the calendar year issued and cannot be transferred between vendors or persons. Section 26-1036 sets a $500.00-per-day civil fine for any license holder or unlicensed vendor who violates the article, with every day of violation a separate offense, and the Planning Division may revoke, suspend or decline to renew a license for noncompliance. A denied applicant can appeal to the Board of Appeals within ten days under Section 26-1037.