Prince George's County, MD Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Sidewalk & Mobile Vending (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- PG County Code § 5-193.01
- First-offense fine
- $250
- Third/subsequent offense fine
- $750
- Setback from intersections/schools
- 100 yards (25 ft for mobile vendors at intersections)
- Parked-vehicle sales limit
- 10 minutes, engine running, flashers on
- Gateway Roads ban
- MD Routes 4, 5, 214, 210, 202, 3/301
Summary
Prince George's County bans most sales from the roadway or right-of-way, but carves out specific food items, including baked goods, fruits and vegetables, fish, cooked meat, candy, bottled beverages, and ice cream, that hawkers and peddlers may sell there, subject to strict distance limits from intersections and schools.
(a)It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation, by its officers, agents or employees, to sell or to attempt to sell goods, wares or merchandise of any description to, or to solicit or accept any donation from, or to distribute printed matter or materials of any description to, any occupant of a motor vehicle when said motor vehicle is in a roadway... it shall be unlawful for any hawker, peddler, roadside vendor, huckster, itinerant vendor, or any other person to sell, attempt to sell, or display for sale any goods, wares, merchandise, or other items of any description while upon the right-of-way, or from a vehicle upon the right-of-way except for the following:...(3)Fruits, vegetables, or other agricultural products;(4)Baked goods;(5)Fish or shellfish;(6)Any meat or meat product, cooked and offered for immediate consumption;(7)Gum or candy; chips or other edible goods offered in individual servings for immediate consumption;(8)Individual cans, bottles, or other single serving containers of soft drinks, juice, or other nonalcoholic beverages;(9)Ice cream, ice cream products, or other frozen novelties.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 2026 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 01(a) makes it unlawful to sell, attempt to sell, or solicit donations from any occupant of a motor vehicle while that vehicle is in a roadway. Subsection (b) then bans hawkers, peddlers, roadside vendors, and itinerant vendors from selling anything from the right-of-way except a specific list: automotive equipment for a stranded driver, flowers and plants, fruits and vegetables, baked goods, fish or shellfish, cooked meat for immediate consumption, gum, candy, chips or other single-serving snacks, individually packaged nonalcoholic beverages, and ice cream or frozen novelties.
Even permitted food vendors cannot set up within 100 yards of a road intersection, a public school entrance or exit, or a shopping center entrance or exit for hawkers and peddlers, or within 25 feet of an intersection for mobile vendors specifically. Sec. 01(c) bans right-of-way sales entirely, apart from roadside-emergency automotive help, along any road the County Council has designated a Gateway Road, which includes Maryland Routes 4, 5, 214, 210, 202, 3/301, and a portion of Suitland Road. A mobile vendor selling from a parked vehicle must keep the motor running with emergency flashers on and cannot remain longer than ten minutes.
Sec. on school days. Sec. 05 lets police or DPIE representatives order an immediate stop to a violating vendor and seize unclaimed goods after 15 days.
Violations & Fines
Violating Sec. 5-193.01's roadway and right-of-way sales restrictions is a misdemeanor: a fine of $250 for a first offense, $500 for a second, and $750 for a third and each subsequent offense, per Sec. 5-193.01(h). Separately, Sec. 5-193.04 authorizes DPIE or police to issue a $200 civil citation for each day a general street/highway peddling violation continues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sell food from a cart on a Prince George's County sidewalk right-of-way?
How far from an intersection must a food vendor stay?
What is a Gateway Road and why does it matter for vending?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Prince George's County
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