El Dorado County, CA Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Sidewalk & Mobile Vending (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required
- Administrative Permit (§130.52.010)
- Max consecutive days/event
- 3 days
- Max events/year, same location
- 3 events
- Operating hours
- Daylight only unless TUP
- Sign posting window
- 1 day before event
- Unlicensed stands
- Prohibited outright
Summary
El Dorado County requires sidewalk sales and mobile food vendors to obtain an Administrative Permit as temporary outdoor retail sales under Section 130.40.220(C). Events are capped at three consecutive days per location and three events a year, run during daylight hours only, and unpermitted itinerant produce or food stands are prohibited outright.
C.Temporary Outdoor Retail Sales. Temporary outdoor retail sales such as farmers' markets, arts and craft fairs, seasonal sales, swap meets/flea markets, sidewalk sales, and mobile food vendors are allowed subject to the issuance of an Administrative Permit (See Section 130.52.010: Administrative Permit, Relief, or Waiver) in Article 5 (Planning Permit Processing) of this Title, unless otherwise specified below and under Subsections D through H ... 6.Duration. Unless otherwise stated in Subsections D through H ... a sales event shall run no more than three consecutive days in the same location, with no more than three such sales events occurring during a calendar year beginning January 1.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 13 Update 4).
Full Breakdown
010 unless a more specific subsection applies. The location cannot block an emergency access route or disrupt vehicular or pedestrian circulation on the shopping center or public street where it sits. 060. 1 for the specific use, either on-site or through a notarized shared-parking agreement with an adjacent property owner, and any parking on the road frontage needs Department of Transportation sign-off. 36 (Signs) placement rules, going up no earlier than one day before the event and coming down at the close of business. Unless a specific subsection says otherwise, a sales event cannot exceed three consecutive days at the same location, and the same location cannot host more than three such events in a calendar year starting January 1; a Temporary Use Permit can extend those limits if the Director finds adequate parking, restrooms and traffic capacity. Transient produce, food, flower or merchandise stands that fall outside an authorized temporary event, licensed produce stand, or other permit are prohibited outright.
Violations & Fines
Running a sidewalk sale or mobile food vending operation without the required Administrative Permit, beyond the three-day/three-events-a-year cap without a Temporary Use Permit, or after daylight hours without authorization is a zoning violation. Unlicensed itinerant food or merchandise stands that fall outside any authorized event or permit are prohibited outright under Section 130.40.220(H) and can be shut down on that basis alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to run a food truck at a sidewalk sale?
How many days in a row can a sidewalk sale run?
Can a food vendor operate at night?
Can someone just set up a produce stand anywhere without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in El Dorado County
California rules heatmap·Compare El Dorado County to another location·View the California food trucks & mobile vendors overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.