Minneapolis, MN Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Sidewalk & Mobile Vending (2026)
Key Facts
- Max cart size
- 4 ft wide x 8 ft long x 8 ft tall
- Locations per license
- up to 3 sites
- Standard hours
- 6 a.m. to midnight
- Near residential buildings
- 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. only
- School buffer
- 200 feet from K-12 schools
Summary
Minneapolis licenses sidewalk food carts under Code § 188.510, capping dimensions at 4 by 8 by 8 feet, restricting hours to 6 a.m.–midnight, and barring carts within 200 feet of a K-12 school or 100 feet of a competing restaurant.
licenses may be issued pursuant to section 259.30 for sidewalk cart food vendors for the sale of specified approved food and beverage items from mobile pushcarts sidewalk carts on the public sidewalks... No sidewalk cart shall have dimensions exceeding four (4) feet in width, eight (8) feet in length and eight (8) feet in height... Hours of operation are limited to the hours between 6:00 a.m. and midnight.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 72).
Full Breakdown
Each sidewalk cart needs its own city license and may operate at up to three specified locations chosen from a map the licensing official maintains. The director of public works must approve each site and will reject spots within 50 feet of an intersection, 3 feet of a curb, adjacent to a bus stop or taxi stand, or directly in front of a commercial entryway. Carts can't exceed 4 feet wide, 8 feet long, and 8 feet tall, and every licensee must maintain a licensed permanent location in Minneapolis for storage, food prep, and daily cart servicing. Licenses expire April 1 each year, and licensees must carry $100,000/$300,000 liability insurance plus $10,000 in property damage coverage.
Violations & Fines
Operating without a valid sidewalk cart license, exceeding the location, hours, or dimension limits, or ignoring the school and restaurant buffers can result in license suspension, revocation, or denial of renewal by the city's licensing official.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set up a food cart anywhere on a Minneapolis sidewalk?
How close can a sidewalk cart operate to a restaurant?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Minneapolis
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