Lynchburg, VA Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Vending Zones (2026)

Section 35.2-72.27 of the Lynchburg Zoning Ordinance sets the districts where mobile food vehicles, meaning food trucks, food trailers or food carts sold at retail, may operate. Mobile food trucks and trailers are limited to the B-3, B-4, B-5, IN-2, I-1 and I-2 districts. Mobile food carts are limited to the B-1, B-3, B-4, B-5, IN-1 and IN-2 districts, and a cart cannot be self-propelled or exceed four feet in width, ten feet in length or eight feet in height. The ordinance exempts meals-on-wheels program vehicles, ice cream trucks and food home-delivery services from all of these district and location rules.

Within an approved district, the vehicle or cart must sit at least 15 feet from any driveway, utility box or vault, handicapped ramp, building entrance or exit, emergency access point, emergency call box or fire hydrant, and it cannot occupy any area of the lot that impedes pedestrian or vehicular traffic. It may not take up parking spaces needed to meet the minimum requirement of the property's principal use unless that business's hours do not overlap with the food vendor's, and it can never block or limit a handicap-accessible space. No freestanding signage, audio amplification or flashing lights are allowed, and the vehicle must leave the site when not open for business. All equipment used in the operation has to stay within, attached to, or within 20 feet of the truck, trailer or cart.

Before setting up, the operator must hold a City business license, renewed annually, supported by a sketch of the vehicle's footprint and written authorization from the property owner. All required City, State and federal health department permits for food preparation and sale must be obtained first, and copies of the license and permits must be kept in the vehicle at all times.