Mount Prospect, IL Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Sidewalk & Mobile Vending (2026)

Temporary vending in the Village of Mount Prospect runs through Article V of Chapter 11, Short Term Merchants. Section 11.102 defines a short term merchant as a person, whether owner, agent, consignee or employee, who engages in a temporary business of selling and delivering goods, wares and merchandise within the village and who, to do so, hires, leases, uses or occupies any building, structure, or any food service vehicle for the exhibition and sale of goods to the public.

Section 11.501 makes it unlawful to act as a short term merchant without first obtaining a license under Article II. The application under Section 11.502 asks for the location, the anticipated opening and closing dates, and proposed hours of operation. A merchant with an outdoor component must submit documentation from the property owner granting permission to use the property, including the area and time frame. The Director of Community Development or a designee can require additional information.

The license term is short. Section 11.503 ends every license no later than 120 days after issuance. Section 11.504 bars renewals and transfers and requires a minimum of 30 days to pass before another short term license is approved for the same business in the same location. Section 11.505 makes the license non-transferable. Appendix A sets the fee: up to 120 days, maximum $150.00; up to 1 month, $75.00; and $20.00 per day for any period less than one month.

Section 11.508 holds the operating rules. The business cannot constitute a nuisance, the license must be displayed in a prominent place on the premises, and the licensee cannot shout or use any sound or amplifying device on any public way, except for entertainment provided as part of a village approved event. The street rule is the core: no exclusive right to any location in the public streets, no stationary location on public right-of-way, and no operation in a congested area where operations might impede or inconvenience the public. The good-faith judgment of a police officer is conclusive on whether an area is congested. Section 11.102 defines right of way to include a sidewalk. Licensees must also hold any Illinois licenses or certifications the business requires.