Columbia, MO Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Vending Zones (2026)
Key Facts
- Zones
- 4 designated vending zones downtown
- Fee
- Meter bag $10/day single space
- Hours
- Barred 3 a.m.–6 a.m.
- Basis
- First-come, first-served spaces
Summary
Columbia, Missouri restricts mobile food vending to city-designated metered spaces on Cherry, Locust and Walnut Streets downtown; vendors must lease a meter bag from Public Works to use them.
The following parking metered spaces are designated as mobile food vending zones: Cherry Street, south side, eight (8) spaces between Sixth Street and Seventh Street. Locust Street, south side, eight (8) spaces between Ninth Street and Tenth Street. Walnut Street, north side, ten (10) spaces between Ninth Street and Tenth Street. Walnut Street, north side, seven (7) spaces between Seventh Street and Eighth Street.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 138).
Full Breakdown
In Columbia, Missouri (Boone County), mobile food vending on public streets is confined to metered zones downtown: eight spaces on Cherry Street between Sixth and Seventh, eight on Locust between Ninth and Tenth, and seventeen combined on Walnut between Seventh and Tenth Streets. Under § 14-316, a vendor must lease a meter bag from the Public Works Department, $10 daily or $150 monthly for a single meter, double for two, and place it at least four hours before use. Spaces are first-come, first-served, and vending is barred between 3:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. Vending outside these designated zones is not authorized under this section.
Violations & Fines
Occupying a reserved meter-bag space without a lease, or vending outside the designated zones, is prohibited; the meter bag must be removed when the vendor leaves, per § 14-316.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where in Columbia can I legally park a food truck?
Do mobile food vendors need a permit for these spaces?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Columbia
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