Peoria County, IL Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Sidewalk & Mobile Vending (2026)

Chapter 10, Division 5 of the Peoria County Code governs sidewalk and street food vendors separately from motorized mobile food units. Section 10-6(32) defines a sidewalk and street food vending unit as a non-motorized cart, one that may carry cooking or hot and cold holding equipment, that works out of a commissary and sets up, serves, and tears down for no more than four consecutive hours a day on weekdays. Section 10-39 makes clear that Division 5's rules apply only to these carts and stack on top of the chapter's general food safety requirements rather than replacing them.

Section 10-40(a) ties each license to a single calendar year, expiring no later than December 31, and to a single approved location; a vendor cannot simply move the cart to a new spot on the strength of an existing license. Section 10-40(b) lists what the vendor must hand the health authority before licensing and every renewal: proof of commissary access and its hours, a list of items to be served, a list of equipment, hours of operation including setup and teardown, and, distinctly, proof that the local governing body, meaning the city, village or township where the cart will sit, has approved that specific location.

Section 10-41 requires the health department to inspect every licensed sidewalk vendor at least once a month and automatically classifies these vendors as Category I establishments unless the health authority determines otherwise. If violations are found and not corrected immediately, or if they pose an imminent health hazard, Section 10-41(b) requires the vendor to cease operating on the spot.