Southeast Campus Vending Area

Public Health Requirements

• Mobile Food Establishment Information and Application

General guidelines

For ordinance language pertaining to the Southeast Campus Vending Area, please see 9.13 (10). For further information, contact the Street Vending Coordinator at 608-261-9171. If interested, please call ahead to make an appointment.

Map: Southeast Campus Vending Area Map

Site Assignments & Seniority System: Sites in this area are by assignment only. Vending is prohibited at any other location within the perimeter of this vending area but the designated sites. Site assignment is determined by a seniority system based upon the date the vendor first purchased a City of Madison Street Vendor License. Site locations are marked with small stencils. Some sites may be restricted to use by push-cart food vendors only. All vending activities must take place within the dimensions of the assigned site.

Site Sizes: Site sizes are either 10 feet by 12 feet or 4 feet by 8 feet.

Placement on the Sidewalk: Vendors must stay at least two feet away from the edge of the curb and at least six feet away from the building or property line. Any carts, tents, displays or tables must stay within the limits of these dimensions. Vendors must always stay at least ten feet away from a fire hydrant, crosswalk or curb cut. Vendors near intersections must not inhibit motorist or pedestrian visibility. The procedures are included in more detail in Ordinance 9.13, License for Selling on Public Streets.

Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Electricity Not Available: Public electricity is not available. The vendor has to depend on a quiet generator or some other self-sufficient power source. Vendors are advised to use or purchase a generator of 60 decibels or less and that uses 15 to 20 amps.

Equipment Limitations:

• Food Vendors: One food cart, table or stand, one compulsory trash receptacle (minimum capacity ten gallons), and one portable chair may be used. All other equipment or loose items are prohibited. All food carts must fit within a maximum footprint of 10 feet by 12 feet.
• Non-food Vendors: One cart, stand or table and one portable chair may be used. All other equipment or loose items are prohibited.

Recycling Awareness: Vendors are encouraged to use recyclable packaging.

Buying a Food Cart: Health Department Message – DO NOT build, buy or operate a mobile food establishment or base until you have approval from the City-County Department of Health. Food may not be stored, prepared, or washed in home kitchens. Utensils may not be washed in home kitchens. Please see Guide for Mobile Food Establishment: English (PDF) / Español (PDF) - Public Health-Madison & Dane County

Places to Look for Food Carts to Buy:

• "For Sale" Signs on Food Carts
• The Internet
• Newspaper Classified Ads
• The Street Vending Coordinator

zoning guidelines

Zoning Guidelines for Street Vendors:

A basic Street Vending License entitles a vendor to sell merchandise or food on public property in the City of Madison. Additional Health Department licenses are required for food vendors. Additional licenses are required for vending within specialized areas like the Mall/Concourse or High Destiny Vending areas.

Street Vending Maps

Private Property Zoned for Commercial Use:

If a vendor desires to sell on private property, that private property must be zoned for commercial use and there must be a direct connection between the products normally sold on the commercial private property and the products sold by the vendor. For example, if a key shop has a parking lot, a street vendor would have to sell keys in that parking lot with the permission of the proprietor. It would not be legal for a food vendor to sell food on the private property of a key shop because food is “not accessory to the principle business.”

Private Property Zoned for Residential Use:

It is never legal for a street vendor to sell merchandise or food on private property zoned for residential use, even if the property owner has given permission. It is not legal to conduct any kind of sales or fundraisers from the front yard, driveway, porch, etc., of a residence.