Denver, CO Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Vending Zones (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit scope
- One location only, non-transferable
- Corner clearance
- 15-foot setback from property line
- Cluster area cap
- Max 3 citywide at once
- Permit term
- Up to 12 months
Summary
Denver confines legal street vending to permitted locations on the 16th Street Pedestrian and Transit Mall: pushcarts, kiosks, and vending clusters all need a location-specific permit approved by the manager of transportation and infrastructure before they can operate.
The manager may issue to any person or organization a permit for a pushcart, kiosk, public seating area, sidewalk cafe, sidewalk sale, special event, entertainment or vending cluster area on the 16th Street Pedestrian and Transit Mall at a location approved by the manager. The manager has authority to promulgate rules and regulations as necessary to implement this process.(2)The manager may issue to an organization or group a daily permit allowing them to engage in product sampling.(3)Once a permit has been issued and remains in effect for a vending pushcart, kiosk, sidewalk cafe, public seating area, product sampling, or sidewalk sale at a given location, no other person or organization may be issued such a permit for the same location and time period.(4)It shall be unlawful for any person or organization to operate a pushcart, kiosk, sidewalk cafe, public seating area, sidewalk sale, entertainer, or to offer product samples or carry on the business of a peddler on the 16th Street Pedestrian and Transit Mall except as permitted in this division. (Ord. No. 112-94, § 1, 2-22-94; Ord. No. 889-04, § 1, 11-29-04; Ord. No. 690-09, § 1, 11-23-09)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 147 Update 3).
Full Breakdown
Vending on Denver's 16th Street Mall is a permit-and-location system, not a general right. The manager of transportation and infrastructure approves each pushcart, kiosk, sidewalk cafe, or vending cluster site individually, referring larger requests to a mall use committee that weighs corner congestion, a 15-foot clearance from the property line for corner uses, competing merchants within 200 feet, and interference with mall shuttles. Permits run up to 12 months, cover one location only, and are non-transferable. No more than three vending cluster areas can operate mall-wide at once, and operating outside the designated location or without a permit is unlawful.
Violations & Fines
Vending without a permit, at an unapproved location, or outside a permit's terms is unlawful under Sec. 49-538.3. The manager can revoke a permit with 10 days' notice, or suspend it without notice for up to 72 hours to clear the right-of-way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set up a food cart anywhere on the 16th Street Mall?
How many vending cluster areas does Denver allow?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Denver
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