Ventura County, CA Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Sidewalk & Mobile Vending (2026)
Key Facts
- Max cart size
- 74" long, 34" wide, 80" tall
- Permit issuer
- Code Compliance Division
- Residential hours
- 7 a.m.–7 p.m. only
- Second violation fine
- $200
- Enforcement
- Administrative citation, permit revocation
Summary
Unincorporated Ventura County caps sidewalk vending carts at 74 inches long, 34 inches wide, and 80 inches tall, and limits vendors to one conveyance or display per permit.
Sidewalk vendors shall only use one (1) conveyance or one (1) display to conduct operations. No goods may be displayed on the ground. Sidewalk vendors shall not set up tables or chairs for customer use. One (1) chair or stool may be used by the sidewalk vendor for personal use. The one (1) authorized conveyance or display shall not exceed a length of seventy-four (74) inches, a width of thirty-four (34) inches, or a height of eighty (80) inches.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 51).
Full Breakdown
Vendors must hold a County vending permit issued by the Code Compliance Division before operating on any County-owned sidewalk in the unincorporated area. Each vendor may run only one cart or display, capped at 74 inches long, 34 inches wide and 80 inches tall, with no goods set on the ground and no customer tables or chairs beyond one stool. Freestanding shade canopies, amplified speakers, generators and open-flame cooking equipment are banned. Roaming vendors may work residential blocks only from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; non-residential vending runs 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. or matches neighboring business hours.
Violations & Fines
First violation draws a written warning; a second nets a $200 fine and a third $500 within one year; a fourth violation can revoke the permit. Unpermitted vending starts at a warning, then $500, then $1,000 fines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sell food from a sidewalk cart in unincorporated Ventura County?
How big can my vending cart be?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ventura County
California rules heatmap·Compare Ventura County to another location·View the California food trucks & mobile vendors overview
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