Bothell, WA Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Vending Zones (2026)

The use table in BMC § 12.06.060 answers the zone question for the City of Bothell. Vendor carts or trucks show a P in OP, NB, CB, GC and LI and a dash, use not permitted, in R-C, R-L1, RL2, RM1 through RM3, R-M4, R-MHP and R-AC. Vendor, ice cream is permitted in every column. Vendor spaces or stands are permitted in OP, NB, CB, GC and LI, and under condition B.4 a stand is treated as a permanent structure while a vendor space inside an existing building cannot exceed 1,000 square feet in total area.

Within a permitted zone, siting conditions in BMC § 12.06.060(B)(3) decide the exact spot. A cart or truck on private property needs written permission from the legal owner of that property, and carts or trucks cannot be located in required parking or landscaping areas. Vendor trucks can be placed on public property and streets only if a public area use permit is obtained, adequate lane width is maintained, adequate sidewalk space is available for the service side of the truck, and visibility at driveways, street intersections, store entrances and display windows is not obscured. A permit is not required on private streets or in the campus district, though the other requirements of the subsection still apply.

The distance rule protects existing restaurants: a vendor truck shall not be placed in a public area closer than 100 feet from any existing eating establishment, unless the legal owner of the eating establishment provides written permission to be within 100 feet of it. The city can also place additional restrictions, including limits on duration and frequency, for public area use permits for vendor trucks. For carts on sidewalks, the code adds a limit of two per city block side or 300 lineal feet, whichever is less.

The permit mechanics sit in Chapter 17.20 BMC. The director of public works issues permits, a sidewalk or walkway keeps a minimum of five feet of unobstructed width under BMC § 17.20.040(B), and the permit is temporary and can be revoked.