Tacoma, WA Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Sidewalk & Mobile Vending (2026)
Key Facts
- Cart size cap
- 5 ft tall, 96 in long
- Spacing from other vendors
- 25 feet minimum
- Walkway clearance
- 6 feet minimum
- Overnight limit
- Not allowed 2-6 a.m.
Summary
Tacoma licenses long-term sidewalk vending carts in commercial zones, capping cart height at 5 feet and length at 96 inches with a required six-foot walkway.
It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in or carry on the business of sidewalk vending upon the public ways of the City without first having obtained a license or licenses pursuant to this chapter. ... The height of a sidewalk vending unit, excluding canopies, umbrellas, or transparent enclosures, shall not exceed five feet. The length of the sidewalk vending unit shall not exceed (96) ninety-six inches.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4946110; v22 updated 2026-07-28).
Full Breakdown
Selling food, flowers, or original arts and crafts from a fixed sidewalk cart on Tacoma's public ways requires a license under TMC Chapter 6B.180. The vending unit itself, excluding canopies and umbrellas, can't exceed five feet in height or 96 inches in length, and any umbrella or canopy is capped at roughly seven-to-nine-and-a-half feet of clearance and 40 square feet. Vendors need written consent from the adjacent property and business owners, must sit at least 25 feet from another licensed vendor's spot, and can't reduce a sidewalk walkway below six feet. Units may not remain out between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.
Violations & Fines
Vending without a license, blocking the six-foot walkway, or crowding within 25 feet of another vendor's spot can lead to license revocation after 30 days' notice of consent withdrawal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Tacoma sidewalk vendors need the adjacent property owner's OK?
How big can a Tacoma sidewalk vending cart be?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tacoma
Compare Tacoma to another location·View the Washington food trucks & mobile vendors overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Sidewalk & Mobile Vending in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle sidewalk & mobile vending.