Clayton County, GA Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Vending Zones (2026)
Key Facts
- Court hours
- 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
- General hours
- 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
- Restaurant separation
- 100 feet minimum
- Trailer size cap
- 7 ft by 16 ft
- Residential vending
- by appointment only
- Court approval
- Zoning Administrator review
Summary
Clayton County limits food trucks to commercial property with the owner's written, notarized permission, dedicated food truck courts in non-residential parking lots, or residential lots by appointment only, under Sec. 6.40 of the Food Truck Business Ordinance. Trucks may run 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. in a court, must stay 100 feet from any restaurant entrance and cannot set up in a required setback or buffer.
b.Food trucks shall not be permitted on the premises before 7:00 a.m. or after 10:00 p.m....g.A minimum distance of 100 feet shall be maintained between any food truck and the entrance to any restaurant.h.The food truck shall not be located within any required setback, any sight distance triangle or required buffer. Access aisles sufficient to provide emergency access to any food truck shall be provided subject to approval by the fire marshal...In residential areas, operations are by appointment only.Door to door solicitations are prohibited.Hours of operation: 8:00 am — 9:00 pm...Sale of fireworks is prohibited.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 104).
Full Breakdown
A food truck court can only be established in a free-standing commercial parking lot that is accessory to an existing, permitted use on land zoned for non-residential use, and only where parking supply exceeds what the site already needs, with two off-street spaces reserved for each vendor's customers. The Zoning Administrator must review and approve the court and keep a database covering the property address, number of designated spaces, a site sketch, vehicle dimensions and photos, copies of lease agreements, proof of Clayton County Health Department compliance, and each vendor's occupational tax certificate.
, cannot discharge any waste, must provide trash receptacles within ten feet of the truck and clear all trash daily, cannot run LED strip lighting or loudspeakers, and must keep any customer canopy within three feet of the truck, under 144 square feet, and approved by the Zoning Administrator. A minimum 100-foot separation is required between any food truck and a restaurant's entrance, and trucks cannot sit inside a required setback, sight-distance triangle or buffer; access aisles must stay open for fire department access. , trailers cannot exceed 7 feet by 16 feet, and the entire business must stay inside the vehicle, with no separate tents or tables permitted.
Violations & Fines
Setting up a food truck court without Zoning Administrator approval and the required database entry, operating a court outside its 7 a.m.-to-10 p.m. window, or placing a truck within 100 feet of a restaurant entrance or inside a required setback or buffer violates Sec. 6.40. In residential areas, vending without a prior appointment or soliciting door-to-door is likewise a violation subject to Clayton County code enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a food truck park in a residential neighborhood?
How close can a food truck be to a restaurant?
What are the operating hours for a food truck court?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Clayton County
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