Tuscaloosa, AL Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Vending Zones (2026)

Under Sec. 12-52(b), a franchised mobile food service unit or cart may operate only at specific locations approved by the director of infrastructure and public services, and the franchisee must initiate every location request; the director has complete discretion, weighing traffic, pedestrian and public safety, public works, public convenience and the uses of adjacent private property. The Tuscaloosa Police Department and Tuscaloosa Fire Rescue Service share that same location authority, though they need not be asked in advance and their action controls if it conflicts with the director's.

A franchisee who disagrees with a location decision has 30 days to appeal to the City Council, which holds a public hearing and can allow, disallow, or condition the location. Sec. 12-52(e) adds a fixed buffer: no mobile unit may locate within 120 feet of any premises with a licensed restaurant or other seller of prepared food, unless it is the franchisee's own restaurant or the restaurant owner or manager gives unrevoked written consent, which can itself set a shorter distance or other conditions. Sec.

12-52(g) separately bars locating on private property at all unless the property owner consents, the property is zoned to allow the use, and the franchisee otherwise complies with law; franchisees acquire no property interest in any approved public location.