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Sonoma County, CA Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Sidewalk & Mobile Vending (2026)

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

Key Facts

Buffer zone
500 feet from any school property line
Exempt days
Weekends and legal holidays
Penalty
$100–$500 fine or up to 60 days jail
Covers
Foot, table/stall, cart, bike, or vehicle vendors
Enacted
Ord. No. 5856, 2009

Summary

Sonoma County bans mobile food and merchandise vending within 500 feet of any K-12 school on weekdays, covering vendors on foot, at tables or stalls, or selling from carts, bikes, or vehicles.

City-specific rules exist: Santa Rosa has its own sidewalk & mobile vending rules that differ from Sonoma County's county-level regulations. If you live in Santa Rosa, check the city-specific page instead.

It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in mobile vending within 500 feet of any property line of any school serving students 18 years of age or younger, except on weekends and legal holidays.(c)Exceptions. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the following:(1)The delivery or sale of pre-ordered goods or services to a private residence or business with the prior consent of the owner, occupant, lessee, or the designee of said persons, including but not limited to employees;(2)Mobile vending on school property with the consent of school authorities;(3)Mobile vending authorized by a valid use permit, cultural event zoning permit, county highway special event permit, or other similar permit or approval issued by the county; or(4)Mobile vending for the purpose of fundraising for nonprofit tax exempt organizations.(d)Penalty for violation. Any person violating or causing the violation of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Except where other penalties are specified, each offense may be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500.00), or by imprisonment in the county jail for a term not to exceed sixty (60) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. (Ord. No. 5856, § I, 10-6-2009.)

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 64 Update 2).

Full Breakdown

Sonoma County Code § 19-17 defines mobile vending broadly: sales or solicitation on foot, from a temporary structure such as a stall, tent, or table, or from a vehicle including a motor vehicle, bicycle, scooter, trailer, cart, or wagon. Mobile vending is prohibited within 500 feet of any property line of a school serving students 18 or younger, except on weekends and legal holidays. Exceptions cover pre-ordered deliveries to a consenting residence or business, vending on school property with the school's consent, vending under a valid county use permit or special event permit, and nonprofit fundraising. This governs unincorporated county land only. Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Rohnert Park, and the other incorporated cities set their own vending rules.

Violations & Fines

Misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $100 to $500, up to 60 days in county jail, or both, under Sonoma County Code § 19-17(d).

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this apply inside Santa Rosa or Petaluma?
No. Section 19-17 governs only unincorporated Sonoma County. Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Rohnert Park, and the other incorporated cities inside the county set their own separate vending rules under their own municipal codes.
Can a food cart set up near a school on a Saturday?
Yes. The 500-foot school buffer in § 19-17 only applies on days school is in session: weekends and legal holidays are expressly exempted from the prohibition.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Sonoma County

All Sonoma County rules

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Sidewalk & Mobile Vending in Cities Across Sonoma County