Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup

Camarillo, CA Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Sidewalk & Mobile Vending (2026)

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

Key Facts

License required
Every vendor, Sec. 5.42.040
Cart permit
Separate permit per cart, Sec. 5.42.050
Liability insurance
$500,000 minimum
Max cart size
72in L x 54in W x 78in H
Residential zones
Stationary carts prohibited
First unlicensed-vending fine
$250, rising to $1,000
Permit term
1 year, non-transferable

Summary

No one may sell food or merchandise from a sidewalk cart in Camarillo without a city vending license, and every cart needs its own separate cart permit under Municipal Code Section 5.42.040. Stationary carts are barred from residential zones and require $500,000 in liability coverage.

No sidewalk vendor may vend or operate anywhere within the city without first obtaining a sidewalk vending license. Sidewalk vendors must comply with the terms and conditions set forth in the sidewalk vending license. ... Sidewalk vending in violation of this chapter will not be punishable as a criminal infraction or misdemeanor, but will be subject to an administrative citation as follows: A.For vending without a valid vending license or vending cart permit:1.An administrative fine of two hundred fifty dollars for a first violation.2.An administrative fine of five hundred dollars for a second violation within one year of the first violation.3.An administrative fine of one thousand dollars for a third violation and each subsequent violation, within one year of the first violation.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 27 Update 1).

Full Breakdown

050 separately requires a cart permit for each cart used. 060). Licenses and cart permits expire one year after issuance, cannot be transferred, and an applicant may hold no more than three cart permits at a time. 070(D)), and a stationary food cart must operate within two hundred feet of an approved restroom. 080). 090). 100).

Violations & Fines

Vending without a valid license or cart permit draws an administrative fine of $250 for a first offense, $500 for a second within a year, and $1,000 for a third or later offense, though proof of a valid permit before the fine is due cuts those amounts to $100, $200 and $500 (Section 5.42.110(A)). Other violations, like blocking a crosswalk or vending in a residential zone, carry escalating fines from $100 to $500, and repeated fourth violations also revoke the license or permit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to run a food cart in Camarillo?
Yes. Section 5.42.040 requires a sidewalk vending license for every vendor, and Section 5.42.050 requires a separate cart permit for each cart used. Food carts also need a Ventura County Environmental Health Division permit, a food handler certificate, and at least $500,000 in liability insurance naming the city, per Section 5.42.060.
Can a food cart operate in a Camarillo residential neighborhood?
A stationary vending cart cannot be used to vend in any residential zoned area under Section 5.42.080. A roaming sidewalk vendor may pass through residential zones, but the cart must keep moving continuously and stop only long enough to complete a sale.
What's the fine for vending without a license in Camarillo?
Section 5.42.110(A) sets an administrative fine of $250 for a first violation of vending without a license or cart permit, $500 for a second violation within a year, and $1,000 for a third and each later violation. Producing a valid permit before the fine is due reduces those amounts to $100, $200 and $500.
How close to a crosswalk or fire hydrant can a vending cart be placed?
Section 5.42.090 requires every cart to stay at least five feet from a marked crosswalk, an unmarked crosswalk's curb return, and any fire hydrant or driveway, and at least eighteen inches from the curb edge. Carts also can't sit within twenty feet of an outdoor dining area or reduce a sidewalk's clear path below four feet.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Camarillo

All Camarillo rules

California rules heatmap·Compare Camarillo to another location·View the California food trucks & mobile vendors overview

Get notified when Sidewalk & Mobile Vending in Camarillo, CA changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.

Sidewalk & Mobile Vending in Nearby Cities

How other cities in Ventura County handle sidewalk & mobile vending.

Thousand Oaks, CA
Light Restrictions
Ventura, CA
Some Restrictions
Moorpark, CA
Significant Restrictions
Simi Valley, CA
Significant Restrictions
Oxnard, CA
Significant Restrictions