Evanston, IL Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Sidewalk & Mobile Vending (2026)

Chapter 11 of the Evanston City Code, Peddlers and Solicitors, governs anyone selling goods, wares or merchandise, including prepared food, along the City's streets, sidewalks or public places, or from a wagon, pushcart, pack or motor vehicle. Section 3-11-2 makes it unlawful to peddle without first obtaining a license from the City Collector, and any applicant who intends to sell bakery goods, prepared food, confections, ice cream, beverages, juices, butter, eggs or any food or drink has that application investigated by the Public Health Director, who confirms compliance with the City's food ordinances before a license can issue. Registrants must also supply two photographs and the names of two people who can vouch for them.

Section 3-11-3 sets the annual license fees: $50.00 for a pack peddler, $50.00 for a pushcart peddler, and $135.00 to peddle by wagon or motor vehicle. Every licensed peddler must wear an Evanston peddler identification card on their outer garment while working under Section 3-11-4, and any vehicle used to peddle food products must display the owner's name, address and the type of goods for sale on each side under Section 3-11-5. Farm sellers of their own vegetables, fruit, berries or poultry, and charitable ticket sales, are exempt from the whole chapter under Section 3-11-6.

Hours are limited: Section 3-11-10 bars peddling food products from trucks or other vehicles on streets, sidewalks or public ways before 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m. Section 3-11-11 caps a peddling vehicle to one stop of no more than half an hour per city block per day and bans standing outside a legal parking place. On days Evanston Township High School is in session, Section 3-11-9 bars peddling food, beverages or merchandise on Church Street between Pitner and Dewey, Dodge Avenue between Lyons and Dempster, and Lake Street between Pitner and Darrow, and Section 3-11-12 extends a 500-foot no-peddling buffer around every elementary, middle and secondary school, public or private, while classes are in session.