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St. Louis County, MO Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Sidewalk & Mobile Vending (2026)

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

Key Facts

Enforcing agency
County Dept. of Health, Director
Allowed foods
popcorn, nuts, produce, pretzels, ice, franks
Hand-washing water reserve
min. 5 gallons
Restroom proximity
within 200 feet
Commissary check-in
at least once per operating day
Max penalty
$1,000/day fine or 1 year jail

Summary

St. Louis County treats sidewalk pushcarts as their own category of mobile food establishment under Section 807.110. Carts can sell only limited items like popcorn, nuts, pretzels, shaved ice and frankfurters, must carry a metal hand-washing sink with at least 5 gallons of reserved water, and can't work more than 200 feet from an approved restroom without special approval.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of St. Louis County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

"PUSHCART" means and refers to a non-self-propelled vehicle designed to be readily movable which is limited to the serving of non-potentially hazardous FOOD maintained at proper temperatures or limited to the assembling and serving of frankfurters. Unpackaged non-potentially hazardous FOOD items approved for sale from a PUSHCART shall be limited to popcorn, nuts, produce, pretzels and similar bakery products, shaved ice, and snow cones. ... PUSHCARTs shall be operated within 60 meters (200 feet) of APPROVED and readily available toilet and hand-washing facilities or as otherwise APPROVED by the regulatory agency to ensure restroom facilities are available to pushcart EMPLOYEES. PUSHCARTs shall operate out of a COMMISSARY or other APPROVED facility. PUSHCARTs shall report to the COMMISSARY or other APPROVED facility at least once each operating day for cleaning and servicing operations.

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 85 | Traffic: Supplement 80).

Full Breakdown

030 defines a "pushcart" as a non-self-propelled vehicle designed to be readily movable, limited to serving non-potentially-hazardous food maintained at proper temperature or to assembling and serving frankfurters; approved unpackaged items are limited to popcorn, nuts, produce, pretzels and similar bakery products, shaved ice and snow cones. 110(6) sets construction standards: smooth, easily cleanable surfaces with no unfinished wood; at least a one-compartment metal sink with hot water of at least 120°F and cold water under 101°F through a mixing faucet, plus hand-washing cleanser and single-service towels; a minimum one-half gallon water heater; and at least 5 gallons of water reserved exclusively for hand-washing.

5 gallons, with added capacity required for carts using ice. 110(7) governs operations: no food may be stored, displayed or served anywhere but the cart except for restocking; leftover food goes only to an approved commissary; single-service utensils must be individually wrapped and food sourced only from approved suppliers; a pushcart must operate within 200 feet of an approved, available toilet and hand-washing facility unless the regulatory agency approves otherwise; and every cart must report to its commissary at least once each operating day for cleaning and servicing.

Potentially hazardous food held at or above 135°F on a pushcart must be destroyed at the end of the operating day. 110 applies to pushcarts the same as any other mobile food establishment.

Violations & Fines

Section 807.135's general Food Code penalty applies to noncompliant pushcart construction or operation: a fine of up to $1,000 per violation per day, imprisonment of up to one year in the county jail, or both, with each day of continued violation a separate offense. The County Counselor may also sue in equity to stop a noncompliant cart from operating.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can a sidewalk pushcart legally sell in St. Louis County?
Section 807.030 limits pushcarts to non-potentially-hazardous items like popcorn, nuts, produce, pretzels and similar bakery goods, shaved ice and snow cones, or to assembling and serving frankfurters.
How close to a restroom must a pushcart operate?
Section 807.110(7) requires pushcarts to operate within 60 meters (200 feet) of an approved, readily available toilet and hand-washing facility, or obtain separate approval from the regulatory agency.
Does a pushcart need its own sink?
Yes. Section 807.110(6) requires at least a one-compartment metal sink with hot water of at least 120°F and cold water under 101°F, plus hand-washing cleanser and towels, with at least 5 gallons reserved exclusively for hand-washing.
Can a pushcart operate without a home base?
No. Section 807.110(7) requires every pushcart to operate out of an approved commissary and report there at least once each operating day for cleaning and servicing.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in St. Louis County

All St. Louis County rules

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