Newport News, VA Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Sidewalk & Mobile Vending (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit fee
- $150 per shift, per year
- Permit term
- 12 months
- Issuing authority
- City manager
- Relocation fee
- $100 administrative fee
- Number of permits
- Capped annually per district
Summary
Selling food or beverages on Newport News streets or sidewalks without a vendor permit is unlawful, and the city manager caps how many permits are issued per vendor district each year.
(a)It shall be unlawful to sell, or offer for sale, food or beverage on streets or sidewalks in the city without first obtaining a vendor permit.(b)Exceptions. The provisions of this article shall not apply to:(1)A vendor operating outside of the public right-of-way and on property where the applicable zoning regulations permit such activity;(2)Special events or festivals for which a permit has been issued by the city;(3)The sale or distribution of newspapers or other publications from vending machines;(4)Solicitors regulated by Chapter 36 of this Code. (Ord. No. 4435-93; Ord. No. 7076-14, § 1)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 81).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 38-222 makes it unlawful to sell or offer food or beverages on city streets or sidewalks without first obtaining a vendor permit, with narrow exceptions for private-property vending allowed by zoning, permitted special events, newspaper vending machines, and licensed solicitors. Under Sec. 38-224, permits run 12 months and cost $150 per shift (breakfast, lunch, or dinner) per year, require a business license and insurance first, and the city manager sets an annual cap on the number of permits issued per street vendor district based on demand and available space.
Violations & Fines
Vending without a permit, or outside an assigned location or approved hours, is a class 2 misdemeanor under Sec. 38-228; the city manager can also suspend or revoke a vendor's permit for violating the article's rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to sell food on a Newport News sidewalk?
How much does a Newport News street vendor permit cost?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Newport News
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