Fort Smith, AR Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Sidewalk & Mobile Vending (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit fee
- $150 per year
- Max stand size
- 8 ft long, 6 ft tall
- Minimum sidewalk width
- 5 feet
- Church buffer
- 100 feet during services
Summary
Fort Smith requires a $150 annual permit to sell food, beverages, art or crafts from a sidewalk stand downtown, and bans vending on sidewalks narrower than five feet or near doorways, driveways, crosswalks and active church assemblies.
No vendor shall: ... 11.Vend at any location where the sidewalk is not over five feet in width.12.Vend within 15 feet of an entrance way to any building unless written permission is provided by the property owner.13.Vend within 25 feet of any driveway entrance.14.Vend within ten feet of the crosswalk at the intersection.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 4).
Full Breakdown
Fort Smith's sidewalk vending ordinance regulates stands used to sell food, beverages, art, crafts or other goods on public sidewalks, primarily in the central business district. A vendor stand cannot exceed eight feet in length or six feet in height, and no advertising is allowed beyond the product name, vendor name and prices. Vendors must obtain a one-year permit ($150) from the city, display it on the cart, and carry commercial general liability insurance naming the city as additional insured. The code bars vending on sidewalks under five feet wide, within 15 feet of a building entrance, 25 feet of a driveway, ten feet of a crosswalk, or 100 feet of a church in session.
Violations & Fines
Vending without a permit, or violating stand specs, distance buffers or insurance requirements, is grounds for permit denial, suspension or revocation by the city, with paid fees forfeited upon revocation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to sell food from a sidewalk cart in Fort Smith?
How close to a driveway can a sidewalk vendor set up?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fort Smith
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