Jackson, MS Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Sidewalk & Mobile Vending (2026)

Sec. 66-79 of the mobile food vending ordinance limits where and when a permitted pushcart, tent or mobile food preparation vehicle can operate on Jackson's sidewalks. Vending is restricted to areas approved by the department of public works and the zoning division, including commercial zones, the C80 Corridor, the NMU-1, CMU-1, C4, UTC and Old Capitol Green mixed-use districts, and special use districts; any other location needs prior approval, and the two departments have complete discretion over which locations to approve. Within an approved area, a unit must stay at least 300 feet from the entrance of any non-mobile business that also sells food, unless that business gives notarized written permission on file with the signs and licenses division, renewed annually; the 300-foot rule does not apply during a city-sanctioned parade or festival with event-organizer approval and a temporary permit.

Units cannot be locked to trees, garbage cans or street furniture, cannot sit within 20 feet of a bus stop or ten feet of a fire hydrant, cannot block the view of a traffic signal or sign, and cannot sit within three feet of a building unless the sidewalk is at least 11 feet wide. or 30 minutes after an event permit's specified closing time, and vendors cannot vend within 300 feet of a school from one hour before classes start through one hour after they end.