Raleigh, NC Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Food Truck Permits (2026)

1 requires any food truck using the public right-of-way to serve customers to obtain a right-of-way permit before operating; the rule doesn't apply to City-approved special events. Permits are limited to five defined locations: the 0-199 blocks of South State Street between New Bern Avenue and West Hargett Street, the 0-199 blocks of Polk Street between North Wilmington Avenue and North Blount Street, the 400 block of West North Street, and the blocks bounded by West Hargett, South West, West Davie and South Dawson Streets.

If demand exceeds available spaces, the City runs a lottery. Applicants submit a completed application with the fee set by the City of Raleigh Fee Schedule and must carry a $1,000,000 liability policy naming the City as additional insured. Once permitted, a truck must maintain at least five feet of unobstructed pedestrian space (more if ADA requires it), stay 100 feet from the entrance of a competing restaurant, outdoor dining space, or permitted pushcart, keep five feet from any driveway apron, five feet from utility boxes or handicap ramps, and fifteen feet from a fire hydrant.

every day, with no tables, chairs, free-standing signage, or audio amplification permitted outside the truck itself. Grease and liquid waste cannot go into storm drains, tree pits, or the sanitary sewer.