Street vendor permits in Indianapolis, IN — sometimes called sidewalk vendor licenses, mobile vendor permits, or peddler permits — are the licenses required to sell goods or food on public property.
Indianapolis requires various vendor permits through the Department of Business and Neighborhood Services. Permit types include transient merchant, mobile vendor, special event vendor, and sidewalk vendor licenses. Mobile vendors cannot operate within 50 feet of a restaurant entrance during operating hours.
The City of Indianapolis Department of Business and Neighborhood Services (BNS) issues various vendor permits. Available permit types include: transient merchant licenses for temporary vendors operating from a fixed location for a limited time, mobile vendor licenses for vehicles or mobile units, special event vendor permits for city-approved events, and sidewalk vendor licenses for operating from public sidewalks in designated areas. Mobile vendors cannot operate within 1,000 feet of a special event without event permission or within 50 feet of a restaurant entrance during its operating hours. Sidewalk vendors can only operate in designated zones, with additional restrictions near schools, parks, and public buildings. Food vendors must obtain a Marion County Public Health Department food handler permit and pass health inspections. Mobile food vendors must operate from a licensed commissary. Insurance requirements typically include general liability coverage with minimum amounts. Business registration with the Marion County Clerk and Indiana Department of Revenue tax registration are also required. The Indianapolis-Marion County Code Chapter 986 (Special Events) intersects with vendor regulations for event-based vending.
Operating without a permit: citations and potential confiscation. Violating distance restrictions: citations. Health violations: immediate shutdown by MCPHD. Repeated violations may result in permit revocation.
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