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

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Permit type
Administrative or Conditional Use Permit
Allowed only as
Accessory use tied to a primary business
Parking time limit
12 hours max in any 24-hour period
Overnight parking
Not allowed
Parking required
2 stalls per mobile food business
Cooking device safety zone
2-foot clearance from combustibles

Summary

Food trucks can't operate as a stand-alone business anywhere in Upland: Municipal Code Chapter 17.33 only allows a mobile food business as an accessory use tied to an existing primary business on private property, approved through an Administrative or Conditional Use Permit, and it can't sit on a vacant lot or run more than 12 hours in any 24-hour period.

A. Mobile food businesses are allowed as a permanent use subject to the requirements of this chapter and the approval of an Administrative or Conditional Use Permit as provided in Part 2 (Zoning Districts, Land Uses, and Development Standards). The mobile food business permit shall be in conjunction with the primary use... B. Each mobile food business owner or operator shall receive written authorization from the owner of the property and related primary business owner to operate the mobile food business. A written authorization signed by both the property owner and primary business owner shall be submitted concurrently with the permit application... E. Mobile food businesses shall meet all applicable requirements of the County of San Bernardino Division of Environmental Health related to the preparation, handling and distribution of food, and secure any necessary permits prior to the Administrative or Conditional Use Permits becoming effective.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4480959; v4 updated 2025-09-22).

Full Breakdown

41. 020, a mobile food business is only allowed as an accessory use connected to a related primary business already on the property, never on a vacant parcel and never selling non-food merchandise or services. 030 requires an Administrative or Conditional Use Permit tied to the primary use, plus written authorization signed by both the property owner and the primary business owner submitted with the application; a separate business license is required for each mobile food vehicle, and operators must also secure a permit from the San Bernardino County Division of Environmental Health before the city permit takes effect.

040 cap on-site parking at 12 hours in any 24-hour period with no overnight parking, require a 2-foot safety clearance around any free-standing barbecue or cooking device, and mandate trash and recycling containers for patrons. 050 bars parking on landscaped areas, requires a hard surface, and forbids blocking driveways or interior circulation. 060 bans drive-throughs, requires two parking stalls per truck, and limits mobile food courts to sites of at least 2,000 square feet with 2 to 10 vendors and a master sign plan.

Violations & Fines

Chapter 17.33 has no truck-specific fine schedule; operating without the required Administrative or Conditional Use Permit, parking overnight, or exceeding the 12-hour limit is enforced as a general code violation under Section 1.16.010, a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $1,000, imprisonment up to six months, or both. The Development Services Director can also condition or revoke the underlying use permit for repeat violations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I run a stand-alone food truck business on a lot in Upland?
No. Section 17.33.020 only allows mobile food businesses as an accessory use connected to an existing primary business already operating on the property; they can't be sited on a vacant lot or run independent of a related business. You'll need an Administrative or Conditional Use Permit tied to that primary use before opening.
How long can a food truck park in one spot in Upland?
Section 17.33.040 caps parking at 12 hours in any 24-hour period, and overnight parking is not allowed at all. The truck must park on a hard surface, not a landscaped area, and can't block driveways or a property's internal traffic circulation.
Do I need county health approval too?
Yes. Section 17.33.030(E) requires mobile food businesses to meet all San Bernardino County Division of Environmental Health requirements for food preparation, handling, and distribution, and to secure that county permit before the city's Administrative or Conditional Use Permit becomes effective.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Upland

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