City of Evanston
Home MenuMobile Food Vendor Licenses
There are three types of mobile food vendor licenses.
Please review the options below.
TERM: Calendar Year.
RENEWABLE: No. An application must be submitted and an inspection of the cart or vehicle scheduled each year.
TRANSFERABLE: No.
CONTACT: Ellyn Golden, Environmental Health Licensing Coordinator, (847) 859-7676 or egolden@cityofevanston.org
MOBILE FOOD VENDOR LICENSE
Motorized vehicles or pushcarts - hot/cold holding (ready-to-eat, pre-packaged food, some minimal food handling may be allowed)
- APPLICATION: MOBILE FOOD VENDOR LICENSE APPLICATION
Mobile Food Vendor License Application -printable version only available upon request
Mobile Food Vendor License Annual Fee determined by Risk Category
Risk 2 - Hot/Cold Holding for less than 12 hours w/same day service; minimal assembly. May require employees to possess Food Handler Certificate - $479.00
Risk 3 - All foods pre-packaged, no assembly - $274.00
MOBILE FOOD VEHICLE VENDOR LICENSE
Commercially-manufactured, motorized mobile food unit (ready-to-eat food is cooked, wrapped, packaged, processed, or portioned)
- APPLICATION: Mobile Food Vehicle Vendor License Application
Please submit all required documents and information with your application.
Checklist for Mobile Food Vehicle Vendor License Application
Mobile Food Vehicle Vendor license fee is $500 per calendar year; $250 for the first year of operation if the license is issued after July 1.
See Evanston City Code 17-O-16 Mobile Food Vehicle Vendor Effective 7-9-16 for a comprehensive list of licensing requirements.
NON-MOTORIZED MOBILE FOOD VENDOR PUSH CART LICENSE
This license allows food vendors with non-motorized push carts to operate within 100 feet of public parks, including the lakefront and beaches.
This license does not allow push carts to operate at other locations within the city limits, or at events taking place in Evanston without the permits or licenses that may be required.
- New Location Restrictions for 2024 - Non-motorized vendors at the lakefront will be restricted to Lee Street (south of the washrooms at Elliott Park), South Boulevard & Lighthouse Beach.
- This is a seasonal license spanning from May, Memorial Day Weekend through September, Labor Day Weekend (beach season). Up to three (3) mobile vendors will be allowed to operate at a park or beach at a given time. A license fee of $50 will apply.
- The license application will be reviewed for code compliance. Once approval for license issuance has been granted and fees paid, a license will be issued. A vendor found to be operating without a valid license is subject to a fine and denial or suspension of any city issued license or permit.
RULES & REGULATIONS FOR NON-MOTORIZED MOBILE FOOD PUSH CARTS
To apply, please submit the online Non-Motorized Mobile Food Push Cart License Application.
Evanston City Code: Ordinance Amending the City Code to Change Restrictions on Food 8-2021
Información y aplicar - Licencia Para Puestos Ambulantes de Comida
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR MOBILE ALL TYPES OF MOBILE FOOD VEHICLES
- Areas of sale Mobile Food Vendor Restrictions Map
- Food Establishment Risk Type Category Descriptions
- All regulations concerning food safety apply.
- The items for sale are restricted by the type of equipment used for food storage and food handling and the extent of food handling.
- All items for sale must come from an approved source.
- Food for public consumption may not be prepared or stored in a home.
For additional information regarding Mobile Food Vendor Licensing contact: egolden@cityofevanston.org
Per Evanston City Code, Title 3, Business Regulations, Chapter 13 Peddlers and Solicitors
- No Sales allowed before 8 am and not after 9 pm
- No stopping in any block for more than 30 minutes per day
- No sales within 500 feet of any school (an even greater distance for the high school when school is in sessions)
- No sales on streets near the high school stadium when events are being conducted.
Per Evanston City Code, Title 7, Public Ways Chapter 11-6 City Beaches and Boat Ramps
- No sales within 100 feet of the public parks or beaches without a license specific to these locations.
Per Evanston City Code, Title 10, Motor Vehicles and Traffic
- No parking of any vehicle upon the street in a business district in order to make sales
Evanston City Code - Mobile Food Vendors
- Title 3 Chapter 13-2 License Required
- Title 3 Chapter 13-9 Evanston Township High School Area
- Title 3 Chapter 13-10 Hours Peddling Prohibited
- Title 3 Chapter 13-11 Vehicle Restrictions
- Title 3 Chapter 13-12 Areas Surrounding Schools
- Title 7 Chapter 11-6(F) Regulations on City Beaches
- Title 10 Chapter 4-3(B) Parking Restrictions in Business Districts
- CHAPTER_11___PEDDLERS_AND_SOLICITORS (regulations also apply to food vendors)
State of Illinois