City of Dickson, TN
mobile food vendors \u2014 permit requirements
City of Dickson requires an operating permit for mobile food vendors. See details below.
Document available
Online application form
- Review the official licensing page
Documents on file:
Permit requirements
Operating permitRequired — apply before operating
CountyDickson County County
Application methodOnline web form
Dickson Permit Rules & Requirements
Permit fees: $250(7 fee tiers)
Permit fees7 rules ▾
- Transaction fee added for debit or credit card payments
- Permit fees are non-refundable in whole or in portion
- Mobile Food Vendors operating under Special Event Permits are exempt from annual permit fee but must comply with all other requirements
- Mobile Food Vendor permit fee is $250.00
- Permits cannot be prorated or issued for less than the full required amount
- Must pay permit fee in full using accepted payment methods
- No refund of annual permit fee for suspended or revoked permits
Insurance2 rules ▾
- Must provide proof of current liability insurance for the mobile food vendor
- Must provide proof of current liability insurance for the Mobile Food Vendor
Documents to submit16 rules ▾
- Must submit current health and fire inspection reports from Tennessee Department of Health
- Must submit copy of current business license from Tennessee Department of Revenue
- Must submit copy of driver's license of mobile food vendor vehicle owner
- Must submit notarized City of Dickson Affidavit of Compliance and Responsibility form
- Affidavit of Compliance and Responsibility must be signed, notarized and submitted with mobile food vendor application
- Must exhibit permit, license and inspection records
- Permit required to operate mobile food vendor
- Permit means Mobile Food Vendor permit issued by Office of Planning and Zoning of City of Dickson
- Must submit copy of driver's license of Mobile Food Vendor owner
- Must provide name, address and telephone number of Mobile Food Vendor operator if different from owner
- Must submit copy of current business license issued by Tennessee Department of Revenue
- Must submit copy of current health inspection report issued by Tennessee Department of Health where applicable
- Must provide name, address and telephone number of Mobile Food Vendor owner
- Must submit signed City of Dickson Pledge of Compliance and Responsibility Form
- Must display permit, business license, and health inspection records in public view with originals available for inspection
- Must have written permission from property owner for commercial/industrial private property operation
State agency licenses6 rules ▾
- Health inspection means inspection conducted by Tennessee Department of Health
- Business license must be current license to conduct business in Tennessee issued by Tennessee Department of Revenue
- Business license, health and safety inspections required
- Vendors must comply with all health regulations
- Must be licensed to conduct business in Tennessee and collect/remit state and local sales taxes
- Must comply with Tennessee Department of Health regulations and have proof of current health inspection
Operating restrictions23 rules ▾
- Location restricted by regulation
- Loud noises, amplification and speaking devices prohibited
- Location may not interfere with ingress/egress
- Beer and alcohol sales prohibited
- Permits for operating after business hours, on weekends or holidays must be obtained in advance during normal business hours
- Permits are issued in person only during normal business hours and will not be issued on weekends, after hours, or holidays
- City Council may designate specific times, days and locations for Mobile Food Vendor operation
- Mobile Food Vendors may operate on public streets/property only with special event permit from City of Dickson
- Mobile Food Vendors may operate in parks subject to Parks and Recreation Advisory Board terms
- Mobile Food Vendors may operate on private property for private catered events
- Cannot block or impede access to fire hydrants, fire department connections or fire lanes
- No loud noises, amplification, or sound devices allowed to attract attention to goods
- Mobile Food Vendor location cannot interfere with pedestrian or vehicular ingress/egress to public streets, alleys, parking lots, sidewalks, or property
- Traveling Food Vendors may broadcast music at volume level that does not create noise nuisance
- Traveling Food Vendors cannot create traffic hazard by stopping on public streets or right-of-way
- Traveling Food Vendors cannot sell food requiring cooking with heat, flames, or steam while traveling
- Traveling Food Vendors may sell at residences and businesses using city streets
- Sale of beer, wine and/or alcohol by Mobile Food Vendor is prohibited
- Traveling Food Vendors cannot stop in places that create safety risk for customers or motorists
- Dickson County Fair and Spring Festival is exempt from permit requirements
- Mobile food vendors may operate on private property for private catered events subject to all other requirements
- Mobile food vendors at private catered events are exempt from permit requirements
- All other events at Dickson County Fairgrounds are subject to permit requirements
Distance & setback1 rule ▾
- Must maintain at least 10 feet clearance from buildings, structures, vehicles and combustible materials
Hours of operation1 rule ▾
- Traveling Food Vendors can only operate between 10:00 am and 8:00 pm local time
Renewal & expiration5 rules ▾
- Permit expires at 4:30 pm on December 31 of the year issued
- Permit has expiration and renewal requirements
- Permits are valid from January 1 to December 31 of the same calendar year regardless of issue date
- Mobile Food Vendor permit valid from January 1 or date of issue until 4:30 pm December 31 of same calendar year
- Permit renewal application must be submitted at least 14 days prior to expiration
Zoning3 rules ▾
- Location may not create building code or municipal code violations
- Mobile Food Vendors prohibited in Downtown Dickson District except with Special Event Permit or Finance Committee approval
- Mobile Food Vendor location cannot create building code or municipal code violations including minimum parking requirements and safety hazards
Penalties36 rules ▾
- Appeal process available for denial or suspension/revocation of permit
- Permit may be suspended or revoked
- Enforcement and inspection procedures apply
- Permit may be summarily suspended without prior notice by authorized enforcement officers
- Mobile Food Vendor permit may be suspended or revoked for violations of regulations
- Returned checks must be paid in full plus $25 fee within 7 days or face criminal prosecution and permit suspension
- Mobile food vendor employees may be arrested or issued criminal citation for violating city ordinance or state statute
- Mobile food vendor must cease operation immediately for emergent violations posing immediate public health risk
- Notice of violation must be issued for each violation to responsible party and submitted to Planning and Zoning office
- Planning and Zoning Office must notify City Administrator who schedules hearing upon receipt of violation notice
- Hearing notice must be provided by certified mail or in person at least 14 days prior
- City Council may suspend permit for failure to pay annual permit fee or assessed taxes
- City Council may revoke or suspend permit for false statements or violating chapter provisions
- First violation results in minimum 14-day permit suspension
- Second or subsequent violation results in minimum 30-day permit suspension
- City Council may impose longer suspensions or revoke permit if justified, but public hearing required except for emergent cases
- City Council decides violations by majority vote based on testimony and evidence from both sides at hearing
- Payment of civil penalty constitutes admission of violation and excludes other penalties
- Permit application denial can be appealed within 30 days to City Administrator
- City Administrator has 15 days to review appeal and uphold or reverse denial
- Permit suspension or revocation can be appealed to court within 10 calendar days
- Suspension or revocation held in abeyance during court appeal process
- Civil penalty must be paid within 7 calendar days to avoid suspension
- Civil penalty alternative to suspension up to $1,000 per violation
- Revoked permits cannot be reissued for minimum 1 year to owner or associated parties
- Temporary suspension begins at least 10 calendar days after imposition to allow appeal period
- City Council determines penalties by majority vote including temporary suspension, permanent revocation or civil penalty
- Mobile Food Vendor must immediately cease operation if refusing authorized inspection
- Operating with an expired Mobile Food Vendor permit is a violation
- Citations may be issued for violations by authorized enforcement personnel
- Vendor must surrender permit if health issue cannot be immediately corrected
- Traffic violations may result in citation and constitute Mobile Food Vendor regulation violation
- Beer license violations by Mobile Food Vendor adjudicated same as establishment violations
- City may revoke Mobile Food Vendor permit through appeal process
- Vendor must terminate operation immediately if health violation creates public threat
- TABC violations reported and may result in punitive actions against permits
Other rules14 rules ▾
- Owner/agent accepts responsibility for violations and agrees to abide by penalties and Dickson City Council decisions
- Owner/agent must acknowledge receipt and understanding of City of Dickson's Mobile Food Vendor ordinance and ensure compliance
- Special rules apply to traveling food vendors
- Private catered events exempt from requirements
- Waste disposal requirements apply
- Dickson County Fair and Spring Festival exempt from requirements
- Cooking appliances and compressed fuel sources must have current safety inspection tag/record available
- Must include fire suppression system and/or portable fire extinguishers with current safety inspection tags
- Must comply with National Fire Protection Association and U.S. Department of Transportation safety regulations
- Mobile Food Vendor permit includes implied consent for inspection of location, premises, vehicle and structures
- Law enforcement, fire marshals, codes enforcement and health officers have duty to enforce Mobile Food Vendor provisions
- Mobile Food Vendor permittee must provide waste disposal receptacles and be responsible for collection and emptying
- Mobile Food Vendors must comply with all health regulations from City and Tennessee Department of Health
- Traveling Food Vendors subject to all motor vehicle, traffic, and public street ordinances
Rules extracted from Dickson's permit application. Verify with the city before applying — rules may have changed since extraction.
Official Resources
Additional Notes
Licensing contact: [email protected] / 615-441-9508
BiteBase provides this information for convenience only. Requirements may change. Always verify current rules directly with the city before operating.