Alameda County, CA Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Vending Zones (2026)
Key Facts
- Zones restricted
- Near farmers markets, swap meets
- Authority
- CDA Director regulations
- State basis
- Gov. Code § 51038(d)
- Scope
- Nonmotorized sidewalk vendors
- Food trucks
- Separate health permit, no zones
Summary
Unincorporated Alameda County can bar sidewalk food and merchandise carts from vending near a permitted farmers' market, swap meet, or special-event area under regulations adopted for Chapter 3.36.
the board of supervisors delegates authority to the community develop agency director (CDA Director) or their designee to, after a noticed public hearing, adopt such rules and regulations as necessary to implement, administer, and enforce this chapter, including the authority to prohibit sidewalk vendors within the immediate vicinity of a permitted certified farmers' market or a permitted swap meet and within the immediate vicinity of an area designated for a temporary special permit when such prohibitions are allowed by Government Code Section 51038(d).B.The CDA director or their designee may revise the adopted regulations from time to time after:1.Posting the proposed revisions to the regulations on the county's webpage for not less than thirty (30) calendar days with a solicitation for public comments and considering any public comments received; and2.Providing the proposed revisions to the regulations to the chairs of the affected municipal advisory councils (MAC) for their review and comment during the same 30-day period and considering any comments received from the MACs.C.Permit Fee. The annual permit fee for each sidewalk vendor permit is two hundred seventy-three dollars ($273.00). (Ord. No. 2025-63, § 1, 11-13-25)
Full Breakdown
Section 3.36.030(A) delegates authority to the county's Community Development Agency Director to adopt rules implementing Chapter 3.36, including authority to prohibit sidewalk vendors within the immediate vicinity of a permitted certified farmers' market or permitted swap meet, and near an area designated for a temporary special-event permit, consistent with Government Code § 51038(d). This applies to nonmotorized "sidewalk vendors" (carts, stands) as Chapter 3.36 defines them. Motorized mobile food trucks are handled separately: they need a health permit under § 6.68.090, which covers inspection and GPS tracking but sets no vending-zone restriction in the county code.
Violations & Fines
Vending within a zone the county has designated off-limits under adopted § 3.36.030 regulations is enforced the same as any unpermitted sidewalk vending activity: a warning, then escalating administrative fines up to $1,000, under § 3.36.060.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this restrict motorized food trucks?
Where exactly are the restricted zones?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Alameda County
California rules heatmap·Compare Alameda County 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.