Merced, CA Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Sidewalk & Mobile Vending (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit issuer
- City manager or designee
- Permit expiration
- December 31 every year
- Required insurance
- $500,000 combined single limit
- Public property fee
- $50 per vehicle/cart annually
- Cart size limit
- 5 ft wide by 10 ft long
- Residential vending hours
- 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Summary
Merced requires every sidewalk or street vendor, including pushcart and food-cart operators, to obtain a permit from the city manager before selling anywhere in city limits. Permits expire every December 31 and must be renewed annually, and vendors must carry $500,000 in liability insurance and pay a public property use fee under Merced Municipal Code Sec. 5.54.020.
A.It is unlawful for any street vendor or sidewalk vendor to operate in the city without having first obtained a permit to do so from the city manager or his/her designee. Permits shall be issued if all the requirements of this chapter are met and the city manager or her/his designee finds that granting such permit will not unduly interfere with the rights of the public or significantly contribute to traffic or other safety hazards.B.All permits shall expire on December 31st of each year. Permits may be renewed on an annual basis.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 85 - 1-26).
Full Breakdown
54, a sidewalk vendor is anyone selling goods, food, or drink from a pushcart, stand, or non-motorized conveyance on a sidewalk, parkway, or public parking lot; a street vendor sells from a street or alley. Both need a permit from the city manager (Sec. 020), issued if the operation will not unduly interfere with public rights or create traffic or safety hazards. Applications go to the city manager and must include the applicant's name, address, and identification, plus vehicle or cart details (Sec. 030). Every vendor must furnish a $500,000 combined-limit insurance certificate naming the city as additional insured (Sec.
040), sign a hold-harmless agreement (Sec. 050), and pay a $50 annual public property use fee per vehicle, wagon, cart, or location (Sec. 060). The business license tax is based on average gross receipts under Sec. 020 (Sec. 070). Sidewalk vendors may not obstruct sidewalks or building entrances, and stationary carts cannot be located within 10 feet of a doorway, 20 feet of a driveway or crosswalk, or in residentially zoned districts unless roaming (Sec. 080). daily (Sec. 100). Vendors cannot shout, ring bells, or play music to attract customers (Sec. 110), and carts cannot exceed 5 feet wide by 10 feet long (Sec. 120).
Violations & Fines
Sec. 5.54.030(C) sets a graduated fine schedule for vending-program violations: a warning for the first offense, a $100 fine for a second within a year, $200 for a third, and $500 or permit rescission for a fourth. Vending entirely without a permit draws separate administrative fines up to $250 for a first violation, $500 for a second, and $1,000 for each additional violation (Sec. 5.54.030(D)). A permit may be revoked outright on a fourth violation, after 60 consecutive days unused, or immediately if the vendor threatens public health and safety (Sec. 5.54.150); decisions are appealable to the city council within 10 days (Sec. 5.54.160).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to sell food from a cart on a Merced sidewalk?
What does it cost to become a licensed sidewalk vendor in Merced?
What happens if I vend in Merced without a permit?
Can sidewalk vendors in Merced play music or shout to attract customers?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Merced
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