Plainfield, NJ Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Vending Zones (2026)

Plainfield Municipal Code § 17:9-30A, subsection C.3, controls where food vehicles can stand in the City of Plainfield. A food vehicle, other than a frozen dessert truck as defined in § 17:1-6, can only occupy City designated spaces within the public right-of-way, strictly in compliance with the conditions of the section. The single public location the code names is the east or west side of Church Street between East Front and East Third streets. Subsection A.10 calls Church Street the only acceptable location for daily operations and sets a capacity of six food vehicles a day, filled first-come-first-served.

Stationary food vehicles are also allowed on private property when the vendor submits the property owner's written consent. No vehicle can occupy street space in a way that blocks the passage of traffic, and every food vehicle must follow all traffic and parking regulations. A motorized food vehicle cannot operate or park where parking is prohibited, restricted or regulated unless the Police Director or a designee issues written authorization.

Hours are fixed for public streets: 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Vehicles cannot remain at those locations outside those hours or overnight. Vendors cannot offer to sell on streets where the permitted speed limit is 30 miles per hour or greater, sell to a person standing in a roadway, sell food to a motorist or vehicle occupant, or provide in-vehicle dining or sidewalk tables or chairs.

Each operator places a trash can and a recycling can of adequate size within 10 feet of the vehicle and removes trash and recycling within 25 feet before leaving. Residents can ask the City Clerk for a licensed food vehicle on their driveway or in the public space directly in front of their home for a special event, with hours no earlier than 8:00 a.m. and no later than 9:00 p.m., and never on the sidewalk.