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

Under SMC Chapter 5.72 (Motorized Food Wagons), 'a person desiring to engage in a vendor operation' must submit a written application in a form acceptable to the City, accompanied by a nonrefundable, nontransferable application fee in an amount established by resolution of the City Council. Permits are issued annually, must be renewed each year with a separate fee, must be in the operator's possession while vending, and at least one permittee with a valid permit must be on the wagon whenever vending is taking place. Every wagon operator must also hold a Stockton business license under SMC Ch. 5.08. State law layered on top: California Health & Safety Code §§113700-114437 (the California Retail Food Code) requires every motorized food wagon to operate from a permitted commissary, obtain a San Joaquin County Environmental Health Department Mobile Food Facility (MFF) permit, pass routine health inspections, and provide handwashing, hot/cold holding, and approved water/wastewater capacity. Effective 2023, SB 972 created the Compact Mobile Food Operation (CMFO) category for small mobile carts — Stockton's 2025 sidewalk-vending ordinance amendments (Titles 5, 8, 12; Chapter 12.76 repealed) formally recognize CMFOs under city law. Title 16 (Development Code) zoning controls determine which districts allow stationary food-truck operation; operating without zoning approval on private property is a code-enforcement violation.