Mobile Food Vendors

This policy of the Community Development Department applies to pushcarts and food trucks, as defined by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. All other itinerant sales shall conform to the provisions of Section 26-627 of the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws. This policy does not apply to mobile retailers associated with special events, private parties, or farmers’ markets; but licensing requirements may still apply. Mobile retail food establishments and pushcarts are temporary uses, permitted under the following conditions on this page.

Pushcarts are retail food establishments that are non-motorized, non-self propelled units designed so foods are served from the exterior of the unit. They are intended to physically report to and operate from a commissary for servicing, restocking, and maintenance.

Mobile Retail Food Establishments (“Food Trucks”) are retail food establishments that report to and operate from a commissary and are readily moveable. They are motorized wheeled vehicles, or towed wheeled vehicles designed and equipped to serve food.

Location Eligibility:

  1. Only permitted on private property that has commercial, industrial, or mixed-use zoning, or on property in any zone district with an institutional or semi-public use. May be permitted on residential property as part of a special event.
  2.  Mobile food sales must be ancillary to an existing primary use (i.e. not on vacant property). An active construction site
    is considered a primary use.
  3. Mobile food sales may be permitted in the public right-of-way with written permission from the Public Works Department and subject to additional requirements. Contact the City for more information.
  4. Food trucks and pushcarts shall be parked only on paved surfaces. In the case of an active construction site where a paved surface may be unavailable or unbuilt, a vendor shall be parked on an approved material that minimizes the tracking of dirt into the street and complies with the approved stormwater management plan.
  5. Operation shall not obstruct the visibility of motorists or pedestrians; interfere with the sight distance triangle; impede parking lot circulation; block access to a public street, alley or sidewalk; impede accessibility or emergency access; or unreasonably reduce the area required for parking for any other use on the lot.
  6. Mobile food sales must be located at least 50 feet away from single-unit or duplex buildings.

Requirements:

  1. Up to four (4) mobile food merchants are allowed per property, with permission of the property owner.
  2. Hours of operation shall only be between 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.
  3. Sales may include only food and non-alcoholic beverages.
  4. Signage shall comply with Section 26-711 of the City Code; one (1) temporary sign is permitted per food truck.
  5. Permanent structures, accessory furniture (canopy, tables, chairs, etc) and amplified music are not permitted, unless the food merchant operates at an existing business with those items already in place. Lighting must be indirect.
  6. Operators shall be responsible for the storage and daily disposal of all trash and recycling. No liquid wastes shall be discharged from the food truck onto the ground (with the exception of clean ice melt).
  7. Electrical hook-ups are encouraged over the use of generators, where possible.

Permitting and Licensing:

  1. A City of Wheat Ridge Business License is required for operation within city limits. Please ensure all Jefferson County Public Health regulations are met and any required permits are obtained. Permits shall be prominently displayed.
  2. With the Business License application (or prior), a sketch plan shall be submitted to the Community Development Department showing the location of the food truck on the property. For properties with rotating vendors, only one sketch plan is required. Property owner permission must be obtained prior to operation on private property.
  3. Follow all West Metro Fire Protection District requirements for operation within their district.
  4. If at any time a business license, health department certificate, or property owner permission is revoked or suspended, approval from the Community Development Department is revoked or suspended simultaneously.