Thornton, CO Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Food Truck Permits (2026)

34 for any motorized or towed wheeled vehicle designed, equipped and used to prepare, serve or sell food at a transitory or static location. Chapter 42, Article XI then stacks additional requirements: the operator must hold a sales and use tax business license from the city treasurer, pass a Thornton Fire Department inspection, and hold a retail food license from the local health department, while complying with all applicable health and sanitation laws. Traffic rules confine vending to collector and local streets where on-street parking is already allowed, forbid blocking sight lines, driveways, emergency access or ADA routes, and require the truck to park entirely on a paved or all-weather surface and vend only from the curb side away from moving traffic.

A truck may not vend within 150 feet of an open restaurant, measured from the restaurant's public entrance to the closest point of the truck, unless every restaurant within that 150-foot setback consents in writing. Vending on city park or open space property needs written approval from the city manager or designee, and vending on private property needs the owner's permission. , may sell only non-alcoholic beverages, must store trash in marked receptacles emptied daily, and may not set up tables, chairs or canopies for on-site patron use. The article also requires compliance with the city's noise, signage and general code provisions.