Marin County, CA Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Vending Zones (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Marin County Code § 5.34.040
- Permitting agency
- Dept. of Public Works
- Annual fee
- $200 per year or part
- Applies to
- County road rights-of-way only
- Additional requirement
- Separate from Ch. 5.34 peddler license
Summary
Marin County requires a public works encroachment permit, separate from any peddler's license, before anyone sells, hawks, or peddles goods within the right-of-way of a county-maintained road. Section 5.34.040 sets the permit fee at two hundred dollars per year and lets the public works director issue further rules controlling roadside vending.
It is unlawful for any person to engage in the business of selling, hawking, or peddling any merchandise, article, or item, whatsoever, within the right-of-way of any county-maintained road without first securing an encroachment permit from the Marin County public works department, in addition to any other license or permit required by law.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 2026 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
34. 34 peddler's license or other required permit. 12. 48. 040(4) authorizes the director of public works to adopt rules and regulations from time to time controlling roadside selling, hawking, or peddling, and requires those rules to be provided to applicants for roadside-vending licenses and permits. 34 licensing rule and any applicable zoning use permit.
Violations & Fines
Selling or peddling merchandise within a county road right-of-way without the Section 5.34.040 encroachment permit is unlawful, independent of any Chapter 5.34 peddler's license violation. The public works director's roadside-vending rules are enforceable as conditions of the encroachment permit, and Chapter 13.12's general encroachment-permit remedies, including revocation, apply to noncompliant roadside vendors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I set up a food cart on a Marin County road?
What does a roadside vending encroachment permit cost in Marin County?
Can the county set extra rules for roadside food vendors?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Marin County
California rules heatmap·Compare Marin County to another location·View the California food trucks & mobile vendors overview
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