Street vendor permits in Des Plaines, IL — sometimes called sidewalk vendor licenses, mobile vendor permits, or peddler permits — are the licenses required to sell goods or food on public property.
Street vending in Des Plaines public rights-of-way is heavily restricted and generally requires a peddler/vendor license from the City Clerk plus health and zoning approvals. Most vending occurs on private property with owner consent or at permitted special events.
Des Plaines does not maintain a permissive street-vending program like Chicago's. Stationary or mobile vendors operating in the public right-of-way must obtain a peddler's license from the City Clerk, undergo a background check through Des Plaines Police, and obtain a Cook County Department of Public Health permit if selling food. Vendors are typically prohibited from operating in residential zones, blocking sidewalks, and within minimum distances of brick-and-mortar establishments selling similar goods. Most legal vending occurs on private commercial property with the owner's written consent and zoning compliance, or at city-permitted special events such as Taste of Des Plaines, Summer Fair, and farmers' markets. Ice cream trucks operating in residential neighborhoods are subject to specific license and health-permit requirements with restrictions on hours and stopping locations.
Vending without permit: $250-$750 per occurrence and possible equipment confiscation. Health code violations through CCDPH up to $1,000. Zoning violations: $250-$1,000 per day.
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Des Plaines, IL
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