Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors in Maryland (2026)
28 rules on the books across Maryland, 11 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Food Truck Permits
Licenses and health permits required to operate a food truck, including fees, inspections, and renewal requirements.
Maryland: statewide
StatewideSome RestrictionsIn Maryland no one may operate a mobile food service facility without a license from the Department, and Health-General…
Read full rule →Annapolis
Significant RestrictionsFood trucks must hold a City of Annapolis mobile food service vendor license under the Peddlers and Itinerant Merchants…
Read full rule →Frederick
Significant RestrictionsOperating a mobile food unit in Frederick, whether a truck, cart, or trailer, requires an annual license from the…
Read full rule →Prince Georges County
Significant RestrictionsGetting a food truck licensed in Prince George's County means clearing both the Health Department and the Fire/EMS…
Read full rule →Anne Arundel County
Some RestrictionsFood trucks anywhere in Anne Arundel County, including unincorporated Glen Burnie and Severna Park, need a Health…
Read full rule →Baltimore County
Some RestrictionsBaltimore County requires a Department-issued license before anyone can operate a food truck within its limits…
Read full rule →Charles County
Some RestrictionsOperating a mobile food truck in Charles County requires a permit from the Planning and Growth Management Department…
Read full rule →Gaithersburg
Some RestrictionsGaithersburg's zoning code keeps food trucks 300 feet from an operating restaurant during its business hours, bans them…
Read full rule →Howard County
Some RestrictionsEvery mobile food vending platform in Howard County, from pushcarts to enclosed trucks using propane or another heat…
Read full rule →Montgomery County
Some RestrictionsMontgomery County treats a food truck as a licensed vendor under Chapter 47 on top of the Chapter 15 health license…
Read full rule →Vending Zones
Designated areas where food trucks and mobile vendors can operate, including time limits, distance from restaurants, and residential area restrictions.
Annapolis
Significant RestrictionsAnnapolis bars food trucks from the Historic District except at city-organized special events, and requires written…
Read full rule →Gaithersburg
Significant RestrictionsA Gaithersburg food truck cannot operate within 300 feet of an existing restaurant during that restaurant's business…
Read full rule →Montgomery County
Significant RestrictionsMontgomery County bans sidewalk and street vending countywide by default, allowing only a capped number of licensed…
Read full rule →Prince Georges County
Significant RestrictionsPrince George's County bars pushcart-style food vending almost everywhere. Sec. 12-115(c)(5) prohibits manually…
Read full rule →Anne Arundel County
Some RestrictionsRoadside vendors across unincorporated Anne Arundel County may only set up where the zoning code allows the use, and…
Read full rule →Baltimore County
Some RestrictionsBaltimore County licenses every food truck through the Department of Permits, Approvals and Inspections and bars them…
Read full rule →Charles County
Some RestrictionsMobile food trucks are permitted with conditions on CC, CB, CV, BP, ABP, IG, IH, PEP, MX, TOD, CER, CRR, WC, AUC and…
Read full rule →Frederick
Some RestrictionsMobile food units in Frederick may run on residential lots from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and can't stay on the same block more…
Read full rule →Harford County
Some RestrictionsSelling produce, meat, eggs or poultry from a cart, wagon, truck or other vehicle anywhere in unincorporated Harford…
Read full rule →Howard County
Some RestrictionsHoward County Code § 18.207 bans "nontransit activity," including selling from a stationary spot, on County roads…
Read full rule →Rockville
Some RestrictionsRockville's zoning code defines food trucks as a 'Mobile Use' and requires, wherever the use is sited, that the unit…
Read full rule →Sidewalk & Mobile Vending
Permits and rules for sidewalk vendors and pushcarts, where vending is allowed, cart and equipment standards, and the distance and hours rules that come with a vendor permit.
Annapolis
Significant RestrictionsPeddlers, hawkers, itinerant merchants, and mobile vendors need a City-issued license before operating on public…
Read full rule →Baltimore County
Significant RestrictionsBaltimore County bars a licensed peddler from setting up a sidewalk stand at all: § 21-11-104 requires hawkers to keep…
Read full rule →Prince Georges County
Significant RestrictionsPrince George's County bans most sales from the roadway or right-of-way, but carves out specific food items, including…
Read full rule →Anne Arundel County
Some RestrictionsAnne Arundel County requires a roadside vendor's license from the Department, costing $250 a year, before anyone can…
Read full rule →Gaithersburg
Some RestrictionsGaithersburg lets a mobile vendor, including a food truck, place one temporary sandwich-board sign up to six square…
Read full rule →Montgomery County
Some RestrictionsMontgomery County requires anyone selling goods or services on public streets, sidewalks, or door-to-door to hold a…
Read full rule →Rockville
Some RestrictionsRockville's zoning code classifies food trucks and similar movable units as a 'Mobile Use': permitted in every zone but…
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