West Haven, CT Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Sidewalk & Mobile Vending (2026)

Chapter 139 of the West Haven Code, adopted by the City Council, is the licensing chapter for street vendors, hawkers and peddlers. Section 139-11 sets the operating rules. Each conveyance used for street vending must have a trash container affixed to it for the trash, litter, garbage and refuse connected with the vending operation. A vendor cannot leave a location until all trash and refuse left from the vendor's sales has been picked up and removed. A vendor also cannot use, set up or attach any crate, carton, rack or other device to increase the selling or display capacity of the cart beyond the maximum size.

That maximum size is written into § 139-3(B): a cart, conveyance or stand can be no larger than four feet nine inches high, five feet eight inches long and three feet six inches wide, and it must be equipped with wheels. A vendor using a motor vehicle instead must give the Police Department a description of the vehicle with its Motor Vehicle Department registration and operator's license, and a copy of the leasing agreement if the vehicle is leased. Motor vehicles must obey all parking regulations, including payment of meter fees.

Under § 139-2 the Police Department of the City of West Haven issues the license or permit in its reasonable discretion. Under § 139-6 a license runs until the first day of October after it is issued unless it is sooner revoked, and § 139-7 lets the issuing authority revoke it for a breach of its terms on notice. A vendor who feels aggrieved by a refusal, a condition or a revocation can appeal in writing to the West Haven City Council within 10 days under § 139-8. Food vendors also need a Health Department license, because § 115-20 requires an itinerant food vendor to hold a valid license from the Director of Health before the Police Department issues its own.