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

Mobile food service in Redding sits at the intersection of state food law and Shasta County health enforcement. The principal food-safety authority is the California Retail Food Code (CalCode), Health and Safety Code §113700 et seq., enforced locally by Shasta County Environmental Health (1855 Placer Street, Redding, 530-225-5787). Every food truck or trailer must hold a Mobile Food Facility permit (truck classifications MFF-1 through MFF-3, depending on whether food is prepackaged or prepared on-board), passes initial plan check, undergoes annual recurring inspection, and is restricted to a permitted commissary for cleaning, restocking, and waste disposal under Health & Safety Code §114295. Operators must hold a California Food Handler card (Health & Safety Code §113948) and a Certified Food Protection Manager certificate (Health & Safety Code §113947.1) for the person in charge. At the city level, operators need a Redding Business License under RMC Chapter 6.02 from the City Clerk (777 Cypress Ave, 3rd floor, 530-225-4056); the standard business license tax applies plus an itinerant or temporary business surcharge in some cases. Zoning is governed by RMC Title 18: mobile food vending is generally permitted in commercial and industrial zones with the property owner's written consent, restricted on public streets within residential zones, and allowed at special events with a Special Event Permit. Sidewalk vending of food on public sidewalks is governed by California SB 946 (the Safe Sidewalk Vending Act, Gov. Code §51036 et seq.), which decriminalized sidewalk vending statewide and prohibits Redding from imposing an outright ban; the city may impose objective time/place/manner restrictions and require sidewalk vendors to hold the same Shasta County MFF permit and Redding Business License. SB 972 (2022) created the Compact Mobile Food Operation (CMFO) category for low-risk sidewalk food carts under CalCode.