Camarillo, CA Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Vending Zones (2026)
Key Facts
- License required
- Sidewalk vending license + cart permit
- Crosswalk/hydrant buffer
- 5 feet minimum
- Event buffer
- 300 feet, 1 hour before/after
- Cart size cap
- 72"L x 54"W x 78"H
- First fine (no license)
- $250 administrative citation
- Stationary carts
- Banned in residential zones
- Permit limit
- Max 3 cart permits per vendor
Summary
Camarillo requires a city vending license and cart permit before any sidewalk food cart operates, and Sec. 5.42.090 bans carts from crosswalks, fire hydrants, bus zones, driveways and outdoor dining areas. Stationary carts are barred from residential zones entirely; only roaming carts may vend there, moving continuously.
A.No sidewalk vendor may place or leave any vending cart:1.Within five feet of a marked crosswalk.2.Within five feet of the curb return of an unmarked crosswalk.3.Within five feet of any fire hydrant.4.Within five feet ahead and forty-five feet to the rear of a sign designating a bus stop.5.Within a marked bus zone.6.Within ten feet of a bench or shelter used for public transit.7.Within five feet of a driveway or driveway apron.8.Within twenty feet of an outdoor dining or patio dining area.9.Within eighteen inches from the edge of the curb.10.Where placement impedes the flow of vehicular traffic such as on public streets or public highways.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 27 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
The sidewalk vending chapter (Camarillo Municipal Code Ch. 42, adopted by Ord. No. 1161 in 2019 to comply with state law) splits vendors into stationary and roaming carts. Sec. 080 bars any stationary vending cart from a residential zone, though a roaming vendor may sell there if the cart moves continuously except when necessary to complete a sale. Sec. 090 lists ten specific placement bans that apply citywide: no cart within five feet of a marked crosswalk, fire hydrant or driveway apron, none within ten feet of a transit bench, none within eighteen inches of the curb edge, and none within twenty feet of an outdoor dining area.
Carts cannot be chained to poles or trees, and must leave a four-foot pedestrian path under the ADA. Sec. 100 adds a 300-foot buffer around any city-permitted event, including certified farmers' markets, running from one hour before to one hour after the event. Every vendor needs a sidewalk vending license (Sec. 040) and every cart needs a separate cart permit (Sec. 050), both valid one year, non-transferable, and capped at three cart permits per applicant. Applications require ID, proposed hours, a route sketch for roaming carts, $500,000 in liability insurance, a Ventura County Environmental Health permit for food carts, and a completed background check.
Carts vending food may not exceed 72 inches long, 54 inches wide or 78 inches tall and must operate within 200 feet of an approved restroom.
Violations & Fines
Vending without a valid license or cart permit draws an administrative fine of $250 for a first offense, $500 for a second within a year, and $1,000 for a third or later offense under Sec. 5.42.110. Other chapter violations start at $100 and escalate to $500 plus permit revocation on a fourth offense. Fines are administrative, not criminal, and appealable through the Chapter 1.13 hearing process; the city can also seize and dispose of an abandoned or non-compliant cart under Sec. 5.42.120 if unclaimed after thirty days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a stationary food cart set up in a Camarillo residential neighborhood?
How close can a Camarillo vending cart be to a fire hydrant or crosswalk?
What is the fine for vending in Camarillo without a permit?
How many vending carts can one person operate in Camarillo?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Camarillo
California rules heatmap·Compare Camarillo to another location·View the California food trucks & mobile vendors overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Vending Zones in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Ventura County handle vending zones.