Smyrna, GA Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Vending Zones (2026)

Section 22-301 of the Smyrna Code sets the location rules for mobile food vendors. Except for ice cream trucks or pushcarts, no mobile food vendor conducts business or operates in the public right-of-way (§ 22-301(a)). On private property, the vendor needs the owner's prior consent (§ 22-301(b)), and the license application carries signatures from property owners consenting to use of their property (§ 22-300(c)(8)).

Except for ice cream trucks and pushcarts, mobile food vendors are allowed only in nonresidential districts where no red zone has been established. The community development director or designee can grant variances in residential districts for neighborhood events (§ 22-301(g)). A red zone is a zone where mobile food vendors are not permitted to do business, and Mayor and Council establish red zones by majority vote (§ 22-299).

Spacing rules follow. A mobile food vendor cannot be located within 15 feet of any street intersection or pedestrian crosswalk or ten feet of any driveway (§ 22-301(h)). A food truck must keep at least 200 feet from any building housing an established licensed eating and drinking establishment, measured in a straight line from the serving window to the property line of the nearest bricks and mortar food establishment. Inside 200 feet, the truck needs expressed and signed consent from all affected establishments. That distance rule does not apply to units operating by invitation of the city at city-sponsored or city-approved events in the Smyrna Market Village or Village Green (§ 22-301(p)).

Operating conditions attach to every site. No sale or offer for sale is made between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. unless it is tied to a city-approved special event or film production permit (§ 22-301(i)). Vending structures are not left unattended or stored on the open vending site when vending is not taking place (§ 22-301(j)). No drive-through is used, and a truck cannot accept orders from customers in their motor vehicles (§ 22-301(q)). Except for ice cream trucks and pushcarts, vendors make no sounds or announcements to draw attention, and the noise ordinance applies at all times (§ 22-301(d)).