Mobile Vending Ordinance

New Ordinance in Progress Regarding Mobile Vending

On June 2, 2025, the Gilroy City Council adopted a resolution establishing a pilot program to regulate mobile vending while staff continues to draft revisions to the current Chapter 16A Article II, to help protect the peace, safety, health, and welfare of the community. On January 26, 2026, Gilroy City Council approved an extension to the pilot program, until October 31, 2026, or upon adoption of a revised mobile vending ordinance, whichever occurs first. The revised resolution includes clarifications to the program, as well as the addition of a revocation and suspension section. The full resolution can be viewed here.

All mobile vendors operating within the City of Gilroy are required to display a valid City of Gilroy Mobile Vending Permit Registration Sticker and a valid permit from the County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health. 

Mobile Vending Pilot Program Guidelines

Effective Upon Adoption – October 31, 2026 (or until a new ordinance is adopted)

To participate in the pilot program, vendors must register with the Administration Department. Click here to register:

1. Purpose

The purpose of this Mobile Vending Pilot Program is to allow temporary, regulated food truck operations in designated areas of the City of Gilroy while the City updates its permanent mobile vending ordinance. This pilot program provides an opportunity to evaluate the feasibility, community response, and operational impacts of mobile vending in various settings.

2. Program Duration

The pilot program shall be effective immediately upon adoption and will remain in place until October 31, 2026, or until a revised ordinance is adopted by the City Council, whichever occurs first.

3. General Requirements

-Possess a valid Mobile Vending Permit issued by the Gilroy Police Department

- Possess a valid City of Gilroy Business License

- Possess a Santa Clara County Environmental Health Permit (if applicable)

- Possess a California Department of Tax and Fee Administration Seller’s Permit

- Provide proof of permission to use restroom facilities if operating longer than one hour

- Register to participate in the Pilot Program

- Comply with operational standards established in Chapter 16B for consistency

License/Permit

License/Permit	Organization	Contact Information
City of Gilroy Pilot Program Registration	City of Gilroy Administration Department	https://forms.gle/GPeBGe1i13VNrkXv8
City of Gilroy Mobile Vending Permit	City of Gilroy Police Department	Telephone – (408) 846-0309 /DocumentCenter/View/19926/Mobile-Vendor-Permit-Application-Pilot-program
City of Gilroy Business License	City of Gilroy Finance Department	Telephone – (408) 846-0420 https://www.cityofgilroy.org/207/Business-Licenses
Health Permit	County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health, Consumer Protection Division	Telephone – (408) 918-1908 https://deh.santaclaracounty.gov/food-and-retail/compliance-retail-food-operations/apply-permit-mff
Sellers Permit	California Department of Tax and Fee Administration	Telephone – 1-800-400-7115 https://www.cdtfa.ca.gov/services/#Overview

4. No Mobile Vending Zones

On Monday, August 18, the City Council provided additional clarification on the “No Mobile Vending Zone” to ensure consistent application of the zone’s intent.

Mobile vending is prohibited in the following areas:

Public Right-of-Way on Monterey Street from Leavesley Road to Luchessa Avenue and side streets from 4th Street to 7th Street, from Railroad Street to Eigleberry Street.
Private or Public Property fronting Monterey Street: no portion of a Mobile Food Vendor may be visible from any point along the property line where it abuts Monterey Street.
- Visibility from diagonal angles—such as from intersections or neighboring parcels—is permissible only if the vendor is not visible from the direct frontage of Monterey Street.

No Mobile Vending Zone

5. Pilot Locations and Conditions

All food trucks operating under this Resolution must ensure permanent restroom and handwashing facilities are available within two hundred (200) feet of their operating location if parked for longer than one hour, and must comply with all health, fire, and life safety regulations.

Storing equipment or vehicles in any public parking lot within the City is strictly prohibited, regardless of whether vending is permitted in that location. Vendors also may not store equipment or vehicles on private property located within the No Mobile Vending Zone.

A. Special Events

Food trucks may operate at permitted special events for the duration of the event, provided they are listed on the special event permit. Vendors must follow all location, safety, and sanitation rules during the event.

B. Downtown Locations

Food trucks may operate within the Downtown Specific Plan Area at the 5th Street Lot, the Eigleberry Lot, and the Paseo Lot, subject to compliance with the City's Mobile Vending Permit and all applicable permitting requirements.
Food truck operations shall be allowed during the months of June 2025 through October 2026, on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, not to exceed the hours of 4:00 pm and 2:00 am in the 5th Street Lot, and 2:00 pm to 10:00 pm in designated spaces in the Eigleberry Lot and the Paseo Lot, excluding days when special events are scheduled in those areas.
- Allowable hours in the 5th Street Lot may be adjusted to fit demand.
- Private property along Gourmet Alley may be used with owner permission and required permits

Approved Downtown Locations Map

C. Private Property (outside of the No Mobile Vending Zone)

Mobile vendors may operate on developed private property in Commercial, Industrial/Manufacturing, and Mixed-Use Zoning Districts. Residential zoning districts are prohibited.

- Hours of operation: Hours cannot exceed those of the host business, and cannot operate outside of the hours of 6:00 am – 12:00 am.

- Vendors must have written permission from the property owner and must not interfere with minimum required parking requirements.

- Vendors may not operate from vacant or undeveloped parcels.

6. Operational Standards

No external signage, flags, or banners (only painted signage compliant with zoning code)
No tents, tables, canopies, or other temporary structures allowed
No generators exceeding acceptable noise levels
Waste and grease must be properly disposed of; vendors must provide trash receptacles
Maintain a minimum 5 feet or 50% of sidewalk clearance for pedestrian access
Maintain a 25-foot distance from ATMs

Except as allowed by a Special Event permit, or at an approved Downtown location, vendors may not operate:

In any city park where there is a concessions agreement that exclusively permits the sale of food or merchandise by a concessionaire.
Within three hundred (300) feet of a permitted, certified farmers’ market or permitted special event during its operation.
Within four hundred (400) feet of a school between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on school days.
Within six hundred (600) feet of any entertainment establishment between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 2:30 a.m.

7. Revocation and Suspension

In accordance with Gilroy City Code Section 16A.17, in the event that the city administrator of the city has reasonable cause to believe and does believe that any licensee or holder of any permit issued under this pilot program is violating any provisions of this pilot program, or of any other law or ordinance relating to the business of the licensee, he shall have the power to and shall be authorized to suspend or revoke such license and all identity permits so issued, as well as any mobile vending permit.

8. Evaluation and Reporting

City staff will monitor and evaluate the pilot program based on:

Public and business feedback
Vendor participation and permit data
Code enforcement or safety issues
Traffic, parking, and pedestrian impact observations

Staff will report findings to the City Council prior to the program’s conclusion.