Pontiac, MI Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Sidewalk & Mobile Vending (2026)

Article XXIII of the Pontiac City Code, Sections 26-1201 through 26-1224, governs street and stationary vending. Section 26-1201 defines a stationary vendor as any peddler, huckster or person who sells or peddles on the sidewalks of the city snack foods and other products from a cart or removable stand, distinct from a street vendor who sells from a moving vehicle. Section 26-1213 makes it unlawful for any foot vendor, stationary vendor, street vendor, or temporary special event vendor or sponsor to operate in the city without first obtaining a license.

Section 26-1203 confines stationary vendors licensed for the Phoenix Center area to that area alone, selling only from an approved cart or stand and only items such as T-shirts, balloons, confections, flowers and souvenirs listed in subsection (d), while Section 26-1202(c) generally limits vendors to their designated licensed area unless the city council approves a variation. Section 26-1206 lets the Director of Community Development designate additional streets, sidewalks or districts where vending is banned outright because of traffic congestion or neighborhood impact. Section 26-1207 bars any vendor from selling within 200 feet of school property, and Section 26-1208 bars sales to anyone standing in a moving traffic lane or on a median strip.

Section 26-1219 requires every vendor to display a numbered license plate on their cart and wear a badge at all times while vending, and failing to do so is grounds for suspension or revocation under the same section.