Wausau, WI Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Food Truck Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- License required for
- Vending from sidewalks or public streets
- Minimum applicant age
- 18 years
- Liability insurance
- $1,000,000.00 aggregate, City as additional insured
- License terms
- Annual (Apr 1-Mar 31) or 6-month terms
- First-offense penalty
- $100.00 forfeiture
Summary
Mobile food vendors need a City license before vending from sidewalks or public streets in Wausau. Applicants must be at least 18, carry $1,000,000.00 in liability insurance, pass a Police Chief investigation, and licenses run on annual or six-month terms starting April 1 or October 1.
5.62.020 - License required.(a)No mobile vendor shall vend from a mobile vending unit on sidewalks or public streets without first obtaining a license as set forth in this chapter.(b)No license issued under this chapter authorizes the holder to vend in any public park including driveways, parking areas, and public rights-of-way within City parks. ... 5.62.040 - Mobile vending licenses. ... (e)Fees. The applicant shall pay a fee as set forth in section 3.40.010(a). The license fee shall be paid at the time the application is filed with the City Clerk. The license fee will be returned to the applicant if the license is not approved.(f)Term. Licenses shall be issued on an annual basis beginning on April 1 and expiring on March 31, or a six-month basis beginning on April 1 and expiring on September 30, or beginning on October 1 and expiring on March 30, subject to the provisions of subsection (i). There will be no pro rata or other reduction for applications.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 12 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
020(c) makes the license additional to any other required local, state or federal approval. 040 sets the application requirements: applicant identity and date of birth, a photo or drawing of the unit with dimensions, a description of products, vehicle information, a current State of Wisconsin or Marathon County Health Department food license where applicable, and a State Seller's Permit copy. 040(d)). 040(h)). 040(e)). 040(f)). 045).
Violations & Fines
Vending without a license, or violating any Chapter 5.62 requirement, is punishable under § 5.62.100 by a $100.00 forfeiture plus prosecution costs for a first offense and $200.00 for a second or later offense, with each day of violation a separate offense. The Public Health and Safety Committee may also suspend, revoke or refuse to renew a license for a Health Department violation, fraud in the application, or a disqualifying conviction (§ 5.62.050(b)), and a denied or revoked applicant cannot reapply for one year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a license to run a food truck in Wausau?
What insurance does a Wausau mobile vendor need?
How long does a Wausau mobile vending license last?
Can a food truck license be denied in Wausau?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Wausau
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