Davenport, IA Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Vending Zones (2026)
Key Facts
- Zones
- Riverfront + East 2nd/Iowa Street
- From crosswalk/signal
- 40 feet minimum
- From restaurant entrance
- 200 feet minimum
- Sales hours
- None midnight to 6 a.m.
- Outside zones
- Council special occurrence permit
Summary
Outside a City-designated vending zone, a Davenport food truck may not operate in the right-of-way without a Council-approved Special Occurrence permit. Units must stay 40 feet from crosswalks and 200 feet from restaurant entrances, and cannot sell between midnight and 6 a.m.
No mobile food unit or pushcart shall park or stand its pushcart or vehicle within (1) 40 feet of a pedestrian crosswalk, or a stop sign or traffic signal light, (2) adjacent to a designated bicycle lane, or (3) absent written authorization of the restaurant, within 200 feet of any public entrance to any permanent restaurant during hours the restaurant is open for business.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4820400; v43 updated 2026-03-11; through 03-11-2026).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 5.19.050 sets placement rules. Units may not park within 40 feet of a crosswalk, stop sign, or traffic signal, adjacent to a designated bike lane, or within 200 feet of a restaurant's public entrance while it is open (bars serving food count as restaurants). Non-sponsor units must stay 1,200 feet, three city blocks, from an approved special event. The City established two designated mobile food vending zones: the riverfront lot near Main Street Landing and the East 2nd/Iowa Street area. Operating elsewhere in the right-of-way requires a special occurrence permit approved by the City Council.
Violations & Fines
Vending outside a designated zone, or too close to a restaurant, crosswalk, or special event, is a municipal infraction; the City may order relocation and impose civil penalties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can food trucks park in Davenport?
How close to a restaurant can I set up?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Davenport
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