Boston designates specific food-truck vending zones through its Mobile Food Truck Program with assigned locations like City Hall Plaza, Rose Kennedy Greenway, Dewey Square, and SoWa. Distance-from-restaurant rules apply citywide.
Boston restricts food-truck operations to designated Public Space vending locations, assigned via an annual lottery through the Office of Economic Opportunity & Inclusion. Popular assigned locations include City Hall Plaza, Rose Kennedy Greenway (Dewey Square, Tufts Medical Area), Copley Square, Government Center, Seaport (Farnsworth Street, Harbor Way), SoWa Open Market, Ferdinand Building, Boston Common edges, and various outer-neighborhood locations. Time limits typically 2-4 hours per slot. Boston Municipal Code §17-1 requires trucks to maintain a minimum distance (commonly 100 feet) from brick-and-mortar food establishments, schools in session, and crosswalks. Trucks cannot block fire hydrants, bus stops, or ADA ramps. Private-property vending on commercial lots in Boston requires owner permission plus Boston Zoning Board approval if not already a permitted use. Chelsea designates limited vending zones; Revere has vending opportunities around Revere Beach (DCR-managed) requiring state Department of Conservation and Recreation permit plus city permit. Winthrop permits food trucks mostly at special events. Special event permits cover one-time festivals and fairs separately from daily mobile vending permits.
Vending in non-designated Boston location: $300 citation under Boston Municipal Code §17-1 plus immediate relocation order. Blocking hydrant or bus stop: $100-$300 plus tow. Repeat violations: Mobile Food Truck permit suspension or revocation. Unpermitted Revere Beach vending: state DCR citation plus fines.
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