Salt Lake City, UT Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Vending Zones (2026)
Key Facts
- Vending zones citywide
- 5 designated districts/areas
- Permits required
- Business license + revocable land use permit
- Block-face permit cap
- 1 per 330-660 ft frontage
- Crosswalk/bus stop buffer
- 10 feet minimum
- Unpermitted cart placement
- Declared a public nuisance
Summary
Salt Lake City confines sidewalk vending carts to five designated zones, the expanded and Secondary Central Business Districts, the Sugar House Business District, city parks, and Washington Square, and requires a business license plus a revocable land use permit for each cart.
Vendors of products specified in this chapter may conduct business by use of sidewalk vending carts within the expanded Central Business District, the Secondary Central Business District, the Sugar House Business District, City parks and Washington Square, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. It shall be unlawful for any person to sell any goods or services, for profit, on any sidewalk within the City, except as provided by this chapter or by subsection 5.64.010C of this title pertaining to sidewalk sales by abutting property owners or possessors. The provisions of this chapter notwithstanding, nothing in this chapter shall pertain to news racks, telephone or telex booths or stands, postboxes, nor to the sale by nonprofit organizations of merchandise which is inextricably intertwined with a statement carrying a religious, political, philosophical or ideological message. (Ord. 54-07 § 1, 2007)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-21: Code current through: Ord. 40-26, passed June 16, 2026).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 5.65.020 makes it unlawful to sell goods or services on any City sidewalk except by permitted sidewalk vending cart within the listed districts, parks, and Washington Square. § 5.65.120 caps permits to one per 330-660 feet of block frontage and bars carts within 10 feet of crosswalks or bus stops, 5 feet of doorways, ramps, or windows, and 10 feet of driveways. Carts outside these zones need no permit but must still meet chapter requirements.
Violations & Fines
Vending outside an approved zone or permit location is declared a public nuisance under § 5.65.210; the Business Licensing Administrator may seize the cart and hold it until the owner pays removal and storage charges.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I legally run a sidewalk vending cart in Salt Lake City?
What happens if I vend without a permit or outside a zone?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Salt Lake City
Compare Salt Lake City to another location·View the Utah food trucks & mobile vendors overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Vending Zones in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Salt Lake County handle vending zones.