Mobile Food Vendors

The City of Sanford Parks Department allows mobile vendors to operate at Kiwanis Family Park and Depot Park. 

To Become a Mobile Vendor

Vendors must hold all required permitting to operate within Sanford's city limits. Visit our OSS Online Portal to apply for a mobile vendor permit. Under "Plans," choose "Mobile Vendor Food Permit."

After being approved, interested mobile food vendors must complete a Parks Mobile Food Vendor Application. A Certificate of Liability must be included in your application. See example for explanation. Only two vendors are allowed per day, per park. 

Once the Mobile Food Vendor Application has been approved, vendors should visit the mobile food vendor calendar to check availability. To reserve an available date, send a request via email to Parks Supervisor Tim Hall to be added to the calendar. 

Mobile Food Vendor Guidelines

Policy Goals

  1. To encourage entrepreneurship in the City of Sanford as well as encourage vibrancy in local parks.
  2. To promote the public health, safety, morals, convenience, comfort, amenities, prosperity and general welfare of persons within the City of Sanford.

Definitions

  1. Pushcart - a wheeled cart which may be moved by one person without the assistance of a motor and which is designed and used for displaying, keeping or storing any food, beverages or other articles for sale by a vendor. The Pushcart shall not be motorized or propelled in any manner other than the walking motion of the person operating the Pushcart, with the exception that persons with disabilities may use a motorized system to propel the pushcart. No motorized assistance shall be used to locate the Pushcart on the sidewalk or public place, with the exception that persons with disabilities may use motorized assistance.
  2. Motorized Mobile Food Unit (“Food Truck”) - a vehicle-mounted, vehicle towed or vehicle-carried, food service establishment, including ice cream trucks, designed to be readily moved.
  3. Mobile Food Vendor (“Vendor”) - a person (or persons) who prepares or serves pre-packaged or cooked food and/or beverages for sale to the public on a recurring basis from a Mobile Food Unit or a Pushcart.
  4. Mobile Catering Vendor - a person (or persons) who prepares or serves prepackaged or cooked food and/or beverages for sale to clients and not for sale to the public.

Annual Enrollment Process

All food trucks must complete an annual enrollment process to remain eligible for participation in City of Sanford Parks events and regular operations. The enrollment window occurs between November 15 and January 31 each year. Both new and returning food trucks must submit applications during this period to be considered for events during that upcoming calendar year. During this time, vendors must submit a single, complete packet containing all required documentation. Incomplete submissions will not be accepted. Assignments for special events for the upcoming calendar year will be posted no later than February 10.

To avoid confusion or disqualification during the event season, it is strongly encouraged that vendors align their insurance and permitting renewals with this period. Submitting updated documents that will remain valid throughout the event year helps ensure uninterrupted participation.

Required documents include:

  1. Colored photographs of all 4 sides of the Mobile Unit
  2. Mobile Food Vendor Permit for Lee County
  3. Most recent food sanitation grade
  4. A North Carolina Environment Health Department or NC Department of Agriculture permit for Mobile Units
    • Please see Lee County requirements according to 15A NCAC 18A.2670 General Requirements for Pushcarts and Mobile Food Units.
  1. Certificate of Insurance with the City of Sanford listed as additional insured
  2. A copy of the menu with all products being sold listed
  3. List with full names and dates of birth for all owners, volunteers and employee

General Food Truck Policy

  1. All Vendors are required to complete a permit application for Lee County Environmental Health Department.
  2. Mobile Food Units, Pushcarts, Mobile Food Vendors, Mobile Catering Vendors are not allowed in any of the “locations” listed below without prior authorization from the Parks Administrator:
    • MLK Memorial Park: 645 South Horner Blvd
    • Carr Creek Park: 2645 Mount Pisgah Church Road
    • McNeill Park: 917 Martin Street
    • Third Street Park: 228 N. Avenue
    • Maple Street Park: 305 S. Fourth Street

Violators are subject to legal enforcement measures, including but not limited to, immediate removal.

  1. Permitted vendors be allowed in the listed parks below with scheduling approval from the Parks Supervisor:
    • Kiwanis Family Park: 1800 Wicker Street
    • Depot Park: 106 Charlotte Avenue
  1. Designated food truck parking spots—Spot A and Spot B—will be located near the playground at Kiwanis for regular daily service. Each week, trucks will be assigned one spot and may not use the same spot two weeks in a row. Assignments will be communicated weekly by the Parks Supervisor. There are the only 2 locations a vendor is permitted to setup. Only 2 vendors are allowed at the park at one time. 
  2. Vendors may operate from 7:30am until 4:30 p.m. November through March and until 6:30 p.m., April through October. The park operates from dawn to dusk daily. 
  3. No identification signs for the Vendor, flags or menu boards for the food products are permitted around the food vending area. Vendors are not permitted to permanently or temporarily attach anything to park property.
  4. The Vendor is responsible for keeping the general area free from all trash and debris associated with the Mobile Food Unit and Pushcart. The Vendor shall clean the general area at least daily and shall keep all sidewalks and paved areas free and clear of grease, spills, trash and food debris. The Vendor is responsible for removing all trash and waste associated with the Mobile Food Unit and Pushcart on a daily basis. The Vendor will keep the area subject to this permit and the area about the subject area in neat, clean and sanitary condition at all times. A violation of this provision will subject the Vendor to penalties, including but not limited to, a temporary suspension of the operating permit up to permanent revocation of the operating permit.
  5. A permitted Vendor may provide catering services to a client but that Vendor must also vend to the public at the same time.
  6. Alcohol may not be sold or served by any Vendor, Mobile Food Unit, or Pushcart at Kiwanis Family Park.
  7. No Vendor shall store, park, or leave any Mobile Food Unit or Pushcart overnight. 
  8. No Vendor shall vend within ten (10) feet of any fire hydrant or fire escape.
  9. Vendors shall comply with proper disposal procedures as directed by health and safety regulations for grease, gray water, and other like materials. 
  10. The Vendor shall not place or use sound equipment on or in the area of the Mobile Food Unit or Pushcart.
  11. Mobile Food Unit and Pushcart permits are only valid at the locations stated in this agreement, not for any other City of Sanford locations. Separate permits and permissions must be obtained for other locations than the ones stated in this agreement. 
  12. Vendor, Vendor’s employees, and Vendor’s volunteers shall, at their own expense, successfully complete a criminal background and national sex offender registry check and not find any disqualifying results in order to operate with Sanford Parks. Any new employees, owners or volunteers must submit their full legal name and date of birth to the Parks Administrator at least 48 hours prior to your approved scheduled time at the park. Failure to do so will result in removal of the food truck from that site. 
  13. Vendor or Vendor’s designee shall be in attendance of the Mobile Food Unit or Pushcart at all times. 
  14. Vendor, Vendor’s employees, and Vendor’s volunteers shall not consume nor be under the influence of alcohol or any controlled substances while operating the Mobile Food Unit or Pushcart. A violation of this provision will result in immediate revocation of the Vendor’s operating permit.
  15. Vendor will bear all costs associated with the establishment and operation of their Mobile Food Unit or Pushcart, including, but not limited to, the provision of water and electrical power. Vendor will not access, use or attempt to use on-site electrical and water utilities while operating a Mobile Food Unit or Pushcart in a city park without prior approval from the Parks Administrator.
  16. Vendor shall hold harmless, protect, and indemnify the City of Sanford against any and all claims, damages or cause of action for damages arising after the commencement of this permit and any orders, decrees or judgments which may be entered therein, brought for damages or alleged damages resulting from any injury to person or property or from loss of life sustained in or about the area subject to this permit.
  17. The City of Sanford shall not be liable for any personal injuries or damage to the applicant or its officers, agents, employees, guests, volunteers, patrons and all persons having business with the applicant, or to any other persons or to any occupant of any part of the area subject to this permit for any injury or damage to any goods, wares, merchandise or property of any occupant in or about any part of the subject area, irrespective of how the same may be caused.
  18. The City of Sanford is not responsible for any damage to the Vendor’s personal property, including but not limited to the Mobile Food Unit, Pushcart, vehicle, food service equipment and other personal items.
    • In the event of any damage or event making the subject area unusable, in whole or in part, to the Vendor, the City of Sanford shall have no duty to restore or repair any part of the area. 
  1. Vendor shall provide and maintain, at his or her own cost and expense, public liability insurance naming the City of Sanford as an additional insured in an amount of not less than $1,000,000 personal liability and $1,000,000 property liability. Proof of such insurance shall be attached to the application.
    • Vendor should maintain his or her own personal property and vehicle insurance if the vehicle is subject to being insured.
  1. In the event the Vendor shall default in the performance of any condition of this permit, this permit may be terminated. In the event the permit is terminated, the Vendor shall be barred from making another application for a period of one year.
  2. Vendor further agrees to comply with all the laws of the United States, State of North Carolina, all regulations of Lee County Health Environment Health Department, and all lawful orders of any Commission, Board or other Authority respecting the use of the subject property, including but not limited to any North Carolina Public Health Department that has permitted the Vendor. All public health, environmental health, sanitation, and safety regulations imposed by State law and County Regulations must be adhered to. A Vendor who is exempt from any Public Health Department regulations in any county in North Carolina must provide written documentation of the exemption at the time of the permit application.
  3. Vendor shall display all required permits, including an approved copy of this application, in a visible location at the Vendor’s Pushcart or Mobile Food Unit at all times. If at any time, a North Carolina County Public Health Department revokes or suspends the issued permit, the City of Sanford’s permit shall be revoked or suspended simultaneously.
  4. It is preferred that vendors operate with run quiet generators or proper mufflers so as not to create an unreasonable noise. 
  5. Reservations must be made by Wednesday at 5 p.m. for the following week starting on Monday and ending on Sunday. No more than two Mobile Food Trucks are permitted per day. The reservation is valid for the entire day, even if the vendor is planning for less than a full day. Weekly assignments will be announced by no later than 5 p.m. on Thursday for the following week.

Special Event Food Truck Policy

Event Tiers
City events are grouped into three tiers to help guide food truck scheduling, Tier 1, 2 and 3. This tier system ensures food trucks are assigned appropriately based on event size and visibility.

Events are grouped into three categories:

  • Tier 1: Major Events (4-9 trucks per event)
    • Big Rig Adventure
    • Busking in the ‘Boro
    • Egg-A-Palooza
    • Freedom Fest
  • Tier 2: Mid-Level Events (2 trucks per event)
    • Summer Concerts
    • All other “special events”
    • Movie Nights
    • Candy Drop
  • Tier 3: Neighborhood Events (up to 2 trucks per event)
    • Yoga
    • Sunny Side Cinema
    • All other “community programs”

Scheduling Guidelines

  1. Rotation and Frequency
  • Scheduling will aim to ensure equal opportunity for all approved vendors.
  • A master matrix will track participation and maintain fairness.
  • Trucks will not be scheduled for an excessive share of events unless others decline.
  1. Tier 1 Event Restrictions
  • Vendors cannot participate in the same Tier 1 event in consecutive years.
  • Trucks are typically limited to three Tier 1 events per year, unless space is available.
  1. Cuisine Type Variety
  • No event will include two trucks offering the same type of food.
  • This ensures variety for participants and minimizes competition between vendors.
  1. Cancellations    
  • If a food truck cancels the day of an event more than three times or they do not show up for an event without notifying the Parks Supervisor by phone call or email at least 8 hours prior to the event start time, that food truck is subject to not being scheduled by Sanford Parks for any future events. 

Event-Day Operations and Safety

  • A City staff member in a City vehicle will escort food trucks to and from their designated location along the walking loop at Kiwanis Family Park. The entrance to the loop is via the ramp at the end of the splash pad with the bollard down. Exiting the walking loop will proceed the same way. 
  • Trucks must wait for escort to enter or exit and may not leave without staff direction.
  • All trucks must remain on the designated paved or marked route—no driving on grass or restricted areas.
  • Any damage caused by veering off the designated route is the truck owner’s responsibility.

Failure to follow protocol may result in removal from future events. 

Exceptions
The City reserves the right to adjust policies and scheduling in response to:

  • Emergency needs
  • Theme-specific food requirements
  • Health and safety concerns