DeKalb County, GA Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Vending Zones (2026)
Key Facts
- Vending hours
- Noon to 8:00 p.m. only
- Allowed inventory
- Pre-packaged snacks/drinks only, no cooking
- Dwell-time limit
- 15 minutes maximum before relocating
- Clearance rule
- 10 feet from hydrants, crosswalks, bus stops
- Sign-posted bar
- No vending near posted "no solicitation" signs
- Emory Village zoning
- Food trucks only in designated accessory spots
Summary
Unincorporated DeKalb County limits street-level mobile food vending: pushcarts and food vehicles may sell only between noon and 8:00 p.m., only pre-packaged snacks and drinks, and must move on after 15 minutes. Separately, the Emory Village Overlay zoning district allows food trucks only as an accessory use in designated spots.
It shall be unlawful to sell, offer for sale or solicit for sale any food or beverage for human consumption from any pushcart, bicycle cart, motorized cart or other type of motor vehicle on the public streets, sidewalks or in the public rights-of-way of unincorporated areas of the county unless specifically allowed as set forth in this section. Pushcarts, bicycle carts, motorized carts or other type of motor vehicles are permitted to sell their products on the public streets, sidewalks or in the public rights-of-way of unincorporated areas of the county between the hours of noon and 8:00 p.m. only if they limit their inventory to the following categories: ice cream, popsicles, frozen desserts, candies, confections, chips, crackers, cookies, popcorn, pastries, and/or canned/bottled drinks... No vehicle shall be allowed to remain stationary on any public street, sidewalk or right-of-way for longer than fifteen (15) minutes at a time.
Full Breakdown
Section 16-3(a) bans selling or soliciting food or beverages from any pushcart, bicycle cart, motorized cart or other vehicle on public streets, sidewalks or rights-of-way of the unincorporated county unless the section specifically allows it. only, and only if the inventory is limited to pre-packaged ice cream, popsicles, frozen desserts, candies, confections, chips, crackers, cookies, popcorn, pastries and canned or bottled drinks; vending is barred outright on rights-of-way adjacent to any property posted with a "no solicitation" or similar sign. Section 16-3(c) requires a Georgia Department of Agriculture license and a current business occupation tax certificate displayed on the vehicle for inspection.
Section 16-3(d) requires exterior slow-moving-vehicle signage as set by the police chief, bars any vehicle from remaining stationary longer than 15 minutes before it must relocate, requires unobstructed pedestrian and vehicular access, and bars operating within 10 feet of a fire hydrant, driveway, bus stop, subway entrance or exit, crosswalk or intersection. 6(3) lists "food trucks in designated areas" among the accessory uses permitted alongside pocket parks, fenced dog parks and small-scale sports activity areas, meaning food trucks there are confined to spots the county has specifically designated rather than any public curb.
Violations & Fines
Chapter 16 sets no separate fine for Section 16-3, so DeKalb's general Code penalty in Section 1-10 applies to unpermitted or noncompliant vending: up to $1,000 and 120 days in jail per offense when the violator is personally served, or up to $500 when cited by posting and mail, with each day of continued violation a separate offense. A vehicle without the required Georgia Department of Agriculture license or business tax certificate displayed is also subject to citation on inspection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hours can a food truck vend on a DeKalb street?
Can a food truck park anywhere it likes for the day?
Does Emory Village have its own food truck rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in DeKalb County
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