Troy, NY Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Sidewalk & Mobile Vending (2026)

Chapter 224 of the Code of the City of Troy, the Hawking, Vending, Soliciting and Peddling Ordinance, does not carve out sidewalks as a separate zone. It governs vendors, hawkers and peddlers on the streets, alleys, parks and other public places of the City. Section 224-2 defines them to include anyone traveling by foot, wagon or automotive vehicle who carries goods, meats, fish, vegetables, fruits, farm products or provisions for sale, and anyone who sells from a wagon, automotive vehicle or other conveyance without traveling.

Section 224-7 makes it unlawful to operate as a hawker, vendor, solicitor or peddler without first obtaining a license from the City Council. The applicant files with the City Clerk or the Mayor a written application listing name, address, the goods to be sold, any employer, the duration of time sought and any vehicle description. Section 224-9 charges $20 at filing to cover the investigation. The license fee is $75 per year for a foot peddler and $500 per year for motor vehicle, food carts or truck peddlers when issued for a maximum of one year. A license for one-half year or less costs one-half the listed fee. The Chief of Police investigates the applicant's business and moral character under § 224-10, including fingerprints sent to the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services.

Location rules do the real limiting. Section 224-4 makes it unlawful for a licensed vendor to have any exclusive right to a location in the public streets, to be permitted a stationary location, or to operate in any congested area where operations might impede or inconvenience the public. Section 224-12 states that a license does not grant permission to vend within 200 feet of any school, firehouse, public building of any nature or any privately operated store or business. Section 224-3 bars shouting, horns, bells and loudspeakers to attract attention to goods.

Separately, § 251-14 provides that no person shall stand in or occupy the portion of a City street normally used by vehicular traffic to sell to an occupant of any vehicle.