Meridian, ID Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Sidewalk & Mobile Vending (2026)
Key Facts
- Licensing authority
- Meridian City Clerk
- Application review
- Chief of Police investigation required
- License term
- Expires 365 days after issuance
- Background check
- 5-10 year criminal history lookback
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor, each day separate offense
Summary
Meridian requires anyone operating a traveling or door-to-door sales unit to hold a City Clerk-issued mobile sales unit license, on top of any state, health department, and tax commission permits, before selling from a cart, vehicle, or on foot.
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate, allow the operation of, or act as a mobile sales unit without each and all of the following licenses, permits, and/or certifications: ... 5. A City of Meridian mobile sales unit license.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 14).
Full Breakdown
Meridian City Code § 3-4-2 requires a City of Meridian mobile sales unit license for anyone selling, trading, or giving away goods or services while traveling or door-to-door: by foot, vehicle, cart, or trailer. Applicants submit fingerprints, photos, ID, and criminal history to the City Clerk, who refers the file to the Chief of Police for investigation before issuing or denying it within 30 days. The license lists the licensee's name, goods, hours, locations, and expires 365 days after issuance. Vendors invited onto private property by the owner, or covered by a special event's temporary use permit, are exempt from this separate license.
Violations & Fines
Operating as a mobile sales unit without a valid license, or violating any license term, is a misdemeanor under Idaho Code, with each day of violation a separate offense; the Clerk may also revoke the license.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do mobile vendors need a permit in Meridian?
How long is a Meridian mobile vendor license valid?
Does an invited vendor on private property need this license?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Meridian
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Sidewalk & Mobile Vending in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle sidewalk & mobile vending.