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Tulare County, CA Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Vending Zones (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

On-street setback
100 feet from any intersection
Off-street setback
20 feet from paved road edge
Max speed zone for on-street stops
35 mph or slower
Residential-zone hours
7 a.m.-9 p.m.; must move every 10 min
Applies to
Unincorporated Tulare County only

Summary

Tulare County Ordinance Code section 6-20-3010 sets strict on-street and off-street parking conditions for mobile food vendors in the unincorporated county: at least 100 feet from any intersection on-street, 20 feet from the road edge off-street, no drive-through sales, and no utility hookups without landowner permission.

City-specific rules exist: Visalia has its own vending zones rules that differ from Tulare County's county-level regulations. If you live in Visalia, check the city-specific page instead.

The mobile food facility must be safely parked: At least one hundred (100) feet from any intersection, including intersections with public alleys; Where the applicable speed limit is 35 mph or slower; ... In such a manner that patrons are not permitted to do business with the mobile food vendor from their vehicles... The mobile food facility must be safely parked at least 20 feet from the paved edge of any public highway and, if operating on a corner lot, at least 20 feet from the corner edge of the property that is the closest to the intersection of the public highways.

Full Breakdown

For on-street operation, section 6-20-3010(a) allows a mobile food facility to stop within a highway right-of-way in unincorporated Tulare County only where the applicable speed limit is 35 mph or slower, and the truck must park at least 100 feet from any intersection (including alley intersections), must not impede traffic view or vehicle movement, must not let patrons buy from their cars, must let patrons park on the same side of the road and reach the truck via a sidewalk or area away from the highway, and must face its service window away from traffic.

The vendor must carry a valid driver's license on at least one employee at all times, cannot connect to any utility service, must supply and remove its own rubbish containers, and must sign an indemnification agreement with the County. For off-street operation, section 6-20-3010(b) requires parking at least 20 feet from the paved edge of any public highway (or from the corner edge on a corner lot), no view obstruction, no drive-through sales, safe patron parking and pedestrian access, and the service window on the side away from traffic; utility hookups are prohibited without written landowner permission and code compliance, and tables, chairs, and awnings must be removed when the truck leaves unless the landowner has given written permission to leave them.

and must move at least every ten minutes, while in nonresidential zones it may operate at any hour but cannot stop over an hour without restroom facilities within 200 feet, per Health and Safety Code section 114315. These rules apply only within unincorporated Tulare County; a truck parked inside Visalia, Tulare, Porterville, or Dinuba is subject to that city's own vending-location rules instead.

Violations & Fines

Parking closer than 100 feet from an intersection on-street, closer than 20 feet off-street, selling through a vehicle window to a customer's car, or hooking up utilities without landowner permission violates section 6-20-3010. As a Chapter 6-20 violation it falls under the general business-licensing penalty in section 6-01-5000: an infraction punishable under section 125 with fines up to $100 first offense, $200 second offense within a year, and $500 for a third. The license collector may also suspend or revoke the vendor's license under sections 6-01-4020 and 6-01-4030, with a right to administrative review and appeal to the County Hearing Officer.

Frequently Asked Questions

How close to an intersection can a Tulare County food truck park?
Not closer than 100 feet from any intersection, including alley intersections, when parked within a highway right-of-way under section 6-20-3010(a)(2)(A).
Can customers order from their cars at a county food truck stop?
No. Section 6-20-3010 requires both on-street and off-street setups to be arranged so patrons cannot do business with the vendor from their vehicles; they must park and walk to the truck.
Can a food truck park in a residential neighborhood all day?
No. Section 6-20-3000 bars operation between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in residential zones and requires the truck to move at least every 10 minutes while parked there.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Tulare County

All Tulare County rules

California rules heatmap·Compare Tulare County to another location·View the California food trucks & mobile vendors overview

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