Dallas City Code Section 7.850 - 7.860
7.850 Definition.
For purposes of sections 7.850 to 7.860:
(1) “Food cart” is a type of itinerant merchant business that is a mobile food service
operation offering prepared food for sale to walk-up customers.
(2) “Itinerant merchant” is a person who sells or offers for sale to the public at large, goods,
wares, or merchandise, other than from door- to-door or from place-to-place, from a motor
vehicle, trailer, cart, wagon, or stand, on a nonpermanent or noncontinuous basis.
(3) “Master license” is a license issued to the organizer or sponsor of a coordinated event or
activity, approved by the city council, involving more than one itinerant merchant (a) for a
limited duration, not exceeding five consecutive days; or (b) on a scheduled recurring basis, not
more frequently than twice each calendar week, for a period not to exceed six consecutive
months. A master license shall be subject to all of the provisions of sections 7.000 to 7.075.
[Section 7.850 amended by Ordinance No. 1725, passed June 21, 2010; amended by
Ordinance No. 1789, passed October 19, 2015.]
7.851 Application and Fee.
(1) Application for an itinerant merchant permit shall be made on a form prescribed by the
city manager and be accompanied by the fee established by resolution of the city council.
(2) An applicant for a permit to operate a food cart business shall submit proof of required
Health Department permits with the application.
[Section 7.851 added by Ordinance No. 1725, passed June 21, 2010; amended by Ordinance
No. 1789, passed October 19, 2015.]
7.855 License Required; Exception.
(1) Except as provided in section (2), no person shall engage in business as an itinerant
merchant without first obtaining a permit from the city manager.
(2) A person named under a master license issued under section 7.030 is not required to have
a license under subsection (1) of this section during the activity or period covered by the master
license, provided, that the person shall comply with all of the requirements of sections 7.857 and
7.858, and all other applicable laws, rules, regulations and ordinances.
[Section 7.855 amended by Ordinance No. 1725, passed June 21, 2010.]
7.856 Time Limit and Location.
(1) Except as provided in subsection (4), no itinerant merchant shall do business or leave any
stand or structure associated with their business at the same location for more than 3 months in
any calendar year, unless the itinerant merchant is named under a master license issued for a
recurring activity or event, as authorized under section 7.850(2), in which case the itinerant
merchant may do business at the licensed location for the duration of the license period,
provided, the merchant may not leave any stand or structure in place when not actively
engaged in business.
(2) If an itinerant merchant, other than a food cart merchant, ceases to operate a business
for 14 consecutive days, the license for that itinerant merchant shall automatically terminate
and all stands, signs, storage facilities and structures of any kind associated with the business
shall be immediately removed.