Macon County, IL Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Sidewalk & Mobile Vending (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required
- Valid Macon County Health Department permit before operating
- Definition covers vendors
- § 91.06 names sidewalk and street food vending units
- Late renewal fee
- $50 after Jan 1, up to $200 after Feb 1
- Max fine
- Up to $500 per violation, § 91.99
- Permit transfer
- Not transferable between people or locations
Summary
Sidewalk and street food vending units in unincorporated Macon County are food establishments under the county's Food Sanitation Code, so a vendor must hold a valid Macon County Health Department permit before operating, and that permit cannot be transferred between people or moved to a new location.
FOOD ESTABLISHMENT. ... Any food service establishment; tavern; bar; nightclub; commissary; catering kitchen; bakery; restaurant; retail food store, mobile food unit; sidewalk and street food vending unit; temporary food establishment; private, public or nonprofit organization or institution routinely serving food; and any other eating or drinking establishment or operation where food or drink is prepared, served, or provided for human consumption, on or off premises, with or without charge. ... It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a food establishment within the jurisdiction of Macon County who does not possess a valid permit issued to that person.
Full Breakdown
06 to expressly include a 'sidewalk and street food vending unit,' alongside mobile food units, restaurants, and temporary food establishments, meaning street vendors fall under the same Health Department permitting scheme as any other food business. 20(A), it is unlawful to operate a food establishment in Macon County without a valid permit, and only a person who complies with chapter 91 is entitled to receive or keep one. Permits are not transferable between people, and they apply only to the location or unit for which they were issued; a change of ownership, location, or menu that adds equipment or a new preparation process invalidates the permit and requires a new plan review.
23, which the County Board must approve. 26. A permit holder who fails to renew by January 1 owes a $50 late fee, rising to $100 after January 15 and $200 after February 1, when operating without a renewed permit becomes an offense in its own right.
Violations & Fines
Operating a sidewalk or street food vending unit without a valid Macon County Health Department permit violates § 91.20(A) and exposes the operator to prosecution under § 91.83 and a fine of up to $500 per violation under § 91.99(A), with each day of continued operation a separate offense; the Health Authority may also seek an injunction to stop operations, and unpaid fees or fines block permit renewal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do sidewalk food vendors need a permit in unincorporated Macon County?
Can I move my permit to a new food cart or new vendor?
What happens if I vend food without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Macon County
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