Earlier editions: 2026-09
Title 5 — BUSINESS LICENSES AND REGULATIONS›Chapter 5.68 — FOOD VENDING VEHICLES
Sacramento Municipal Code Art. II Food Vending Vehicle Permits
Sacramento Municipal Code · 2026-10 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · Sacramento
Cite as: Sacramento Municipal Code Article II · Text as of 2026-10-04
5.68.020 Food vending vehicle permit required.¶
A. No person shall operate a food vending vehicle unless a food vending vehicle permit issued pursuant to this chapter is in effect for that food vending vehicle.
B. Every permittee, upon receipt of a vehicle permit, shall maintain the permit with the vehicle for which it is issued, at all times the food vending vehicle is being operated.
C. Upon demand of a peace officer or city employee authorized to enforce this chapter, a person operating a food vending vehicle shall present the vehicle permit that is in effect for that vehicle.
D. All vehicle permits are the property of the city and each shall authorize the operation of a single specific food vending vehicle. No person shall sell or transfer, or attempt to sell or transfer, any vehicle permit. (Ord. 2015-0016 § 1)
5.68.025 Bicycles operating as food vending vehicles.¶
A. Every person operating a bicycle as a food vending vehicle is subject to the provisions of this chapter, excepting those provisions which by their very nature can have no application to a bicycle.
B. No person shall stop, stand, or park a bicycle operated as a food vending vehicle, in a manner that is prohibited of a vehicle under chapter 10.36. (Ord. 2018-0044 § 2)
5.68.030 Vehicle permit application.¶
A. An application for a food vending vehicle permit shall be filed with the director and shall contain the following:
The individual and business name, address, and telephone number of the permit applicant;
Written evidence that the applicant is an owner, lessee or holder of a similar interest in the food vending vehicle;
The name and address of all legal and registered owner(s) of the food vending vehicle, and each person with a financial interest in the business that operates the food vending vehicle;
A copy of a valid business operations tax certificate issued pursuant to Chapter 3.08;
The state vehicle license plate number and the vehicle identification number of the food vending vehicle;
Proof of compliance with the insurance requirements set forth in Section 5.68.060;
Proof that the vehicle is in compliance with applicable requirements of the state of California and the county of Sacramento regarding the operation of a food vending vehicle;
The address where the food vending vehicle is stored when not in use;
For each person with a ten (10) percent or greater financial interest in the business that operates the food vending vehicle, a list, signed under penalty of perjury, of each conviction of such person and whether such conviction was by verdict, plea of guilty, or plea of nolo contendere. The list shall, for each such conviction, set forth the date of arrest, the offense charged, and the offense of which the person was convicted. A person who acquires a ten (10) percent or greater financial interest in the business that operates the food vending vehicle during the life of the permit issued pursuant to this chapter shall immediately so notify the director and comply with this subsection. Any holder of a valid food vending vehicle driver permit issued pursuant to Section 5.68.100 shall be exempt from the requirements of this subsection;
Such other information as may be required by the director to further the purpose of this chapter.
B. Every application for a vehicle permit shall be accompanied by a nonproratable, nonrefundable application fee in an amount established by resolution of the city council.
C. No person shall knowingly make a false statement of fact or knowingly omit any information that is required in an application for a vehicle permit. (Ord. 2015-0016 § 1)
5.68.040 Vehicle permit issuance and denial.¶
A. Except as provided in subsection C of this section, a food vending vehicle permit shall be issued by the director upon receipt of a complete application and payment of the permit fee, as specified in Section 5.68.030, and after the director has:
Physically inspected the food vending vehicle to ensure compliance with this code and the California Vehicle Code equipment requirements; provided, however, that the director may accept proof of compliance with state of California or Sacramento County inspection requirements for operating a food vending vehicle in lieu of conducting an inspection; and
Determined that the business location and vehicle storage location, if within the city, comply with applicable zoning regulations and other codes.
B. A vehicle permit may be denied by the director on any of the following grounds:
The information submitted pursuant to Section 5.68.030 is materially false or incomplete;
The applicant, any registered owner of the food vending vehicle, or any person with a financial interest in the business that operates the food vending vehicle, has any unpaid administrative penalties imposed pursuant to Chapter 1.28;
Within twelve (12) months of the date of application, the applicant, any registered owner of the food vending vehicle, or any person with a financial interest in the business that operates the food vending vehicle, has had his or her vehicle permit revoked;
The applicant has not paid the applicable business operations tax pursuant to Chapter 3.08; or
A person with ten (10) percent or greater financial interest in the operation of the food vending vehicle has been convicted of a crime, and the time for appeal has elapsed, irrespective of the entry of a subsequent order under California Penal Code Section 1203.4; or has committed any act involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or moral turpitude with intent to substantially benefit him or herself, or another, or substantially injure another, or having the effect of substantially injuring another.
Provided, however, that the permit shall be denied upon any of the grounds specified in this subsection (B)(5) only if the director finds that the crime or act is substantially related to the qualifications, functions or duties of a food vending vehicle owner or owner of a business which operates food vending vehicles or has substantial contact with minors. However, no person shall be denied a permit solely on the basis that he or she has been convicted of a felony if he or she has obtained a certificate of rehabilitation under California Penal Code Section 4852.01, et seq., or that he or she has been convicted of a misdemeanor if he or she has met all applicable requirements of the criteria of rehabilitation developed to evaluate the rehabilitation of a person when considering a petition under California Penal Code Section 4852.01, et seq. (Ord. 2015-0016 § 1)
5.68.045 Term of vehicle permit-Renewal.¶
A. All food vending vehicle permits shall expire on April 30th of the calendar year following the date of issuance, unless sooner revoked.
B. A permittee may file an application for renewal of a valid vehicle permit with the director between March 1st and March 31st for the permit period beginning the following May 1st. Upon the applicant's request and a showing of a delay caused by circumstances beyond the applicant's control, the director may grant an extension of the March 31st deadline, up to ninety (90) days. If a permittee files an application for renewal after March 31st but before May 1st, without an extension, the city may impose a late penalty in an amount established by resolution of the city council and the permit renewal may not be issued prior to the expiration of the current permit. Any renewal application filed after the permit has expired shall be denied, unless an extension has been granted.
C. Renewal applications shall contain information as may be required by the director to further the purpose of this chapter and shall be accompanied by a nonproratable and nonrefundable renewal application fee in an amount established by resolution of the city council.
D. Vehicle permit renewals may be issued or denied in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.68.040.
E. No person shall knowingly make a false statement of fact or knowingly omit any information that is required in an application for the renewal of a valid vehicle permit. (Ord. 2015-0016 § 1)
5.68.050 Posting requirements.¶
A. No person shall operate a food vending vehicle unless the vehicle permit decal is displayed in a manner specified by the director.
B. No person shall operate a food vending vehicle unless the food vending vehicle number, as provided by the director, is permanently posted on the exterior of the vehicle and in a location that is clearly visible to patrons. The numbers shall be legible, not less than three and one-half inches in height and in a color that contrasts with the color of the background upon which it is placed. (Ord. 2018-0044 § 3; Ord. 2015-0016 § 1)
5.68.060 Liability insurance.¶
A. Every permittee shall, at their own expense, maintain in full force and effect commercial and general liability insurance, including products and completed operation coverage, during the term of the vehicle permit:
In an amount not less than $1,000,000.00 single limit per occurrence;
Issued by an admitted insurer or insurers as defined by the California Insurance Code;
Providing that the city, its officers, employees and agents are named as additional insureds under the policy;
Covering all losses and damages as specified in section 5.68.070;
Stipulating that the policy will operate as the primary insurance and that no other insurance effected by the city or other named insured will be called on to contribute to a loss covered thereunder; and
Providing that no cancellation, change in coverage or expiration by the insurance company or the insured shall occur during the term of the vehicle permit, without 30 days' written notice to the director prior to the effective date of such cancellation or change in coverage.
B. Permittees operating a vehicle, truck, or trailer as a food vending vehicle shall maintain in full force and effect comprehensive auto liability insurance in accordance with subsection A above.
C. In the event of a cancellation, expiration, or change of insurance coverage resulting in noncompliance with subsection A or B, the permittee shall notify the city of the cancellation, expiration, or change within three business days after its effective date by submitting a written notice to the director. The giving of notice as provided herein shall not stay the automatic suspension of the permit pursuant to section 5.68.220.
D. No person shall operate a food vending vehicle without insurance coverage in effect as required by this section. (Ord. 2018-0044 § 4; Ord. 2015-0016 § 1)
5.68.070 Indemnify and hold harmless.¶
The permittee and food vending vehicle owner(s) shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless the city, its officers, employees and agents from and against all actions, losses, damages, liability, costs and expenses of every type and description, including, but not limited to, attorney fees, to which any or all of them may be subjected by reason of, or resulting from, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, the acts or omissions of the permittee or the permittee's agents, officers or employees, directly or indirectly arising from the operation of the food vending vehicle. (Ord. 2015-0016 § 1)
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