Rochester, NY Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Vending Zones (2026)

Section 60-2 of the Municipal Code sets the citywide siting rules for food trucks operating on public streets. Outside the three designated vending districts, a food truck may park in any legal parking space, subject to distance limits: no truck may operate within 100 feet of any property zoned Low-Density Residential (R-1), Medium-Density Residential (R-2) or High-Density Residential (R-3) (Section 60-2(G)); within 100 feet of an approved vending cart location (Section 60-2(J)); within 100 feet of a sidewalk cafe seating area approved by the Department of Environmental Services (Section 60-2(K)); or within 500 feet of the boundary of a permitted festival, special event or civic event unless the vendor has its own permit to operate there (Section 60-2(L)).

Every truck and trailer must carry a measuring device capable of measuring at least 500 feet to prove compliance with these distances, and failing to carry one or to observe the setbacks is itself a violation (Section 60-2(H)). , and no vendor may occupy a specific space for more than four consecutive hours (Section 60-7(A)). Food trailers may not operate in the public right-of-way at all except at an authorized special event or private event (Section 60-2(B)). A food truck also cannot park in a spot that obstructs building access or the flow of vehicle and pedestrian traffic (Section 60-2(M)).