Late Night Food Vending
General Guidelines
Late Night Vending (LNV) Areas:
b. Zone B: 400 Block of West Gilman. Zone B is located on the south side of the street in the 400 block of West Gilman Street, near University Avenue, as shown on the official LNV map. A maximum of two (2) licensed Late Night Vendors may vend from legal parking spaces within Zone B at any one time. Only licensed Late Night Vendors who have been assigned to Zone B may vend in Zone B, and vendors will be assigned to a zone by seniority under Sec. 9.13(6)(n)4.b.
c. Zone C: 400 Block of North Broom Street. Late Night Vending may occur on the west side of the 400 block of North Broom Street beginning with the first legal parking space to the south of the northern-most driveway on the west side of the street, and anywhere that street vending may lawfully occur on the east side of the 400 block of North Broom Street, as shown on the official LNV map. A maximum of two (2) licensed Late Night Vendors may vend from legal parking spaces within Zone C at any one time. Only licensed Late Night Vendors who have been assigned to Zone C may vend in Zone C, and vendors will be assigned to a zone by seniority under Sec. 9.13(6)(n)4.b.
d. Concrete Park/Frances Plaza: 500 Block of North Frances (L3). Late Night Vending in this area may occur at three assigned sites: two (2) full-sized food cart sites and one (1) site for a full-sized or small push cart, with each site location shown on the official LNV map and is prohibited in any other location. Sites will be assigned by seniority under Sec. 9.13(6)(n)4. See Sec. 9.13(6)(n)6.a. for the definition of small push carts.
e. University and Lake Site (L4). One (1) small push cart site shall be located on the sidewalk on the north side of University Avenue near the northeast corner of the intersection with Lake Street, with the exact location determined by the Vending Coordinator and shown on the official LNV map. This site will be assigned to a licensed Late Night Vendor by seniority under Sec. 9.13(6)(n)4. See Sec. 9.13(6)(n)6.a. for the definition of small push carts.
b. Late Night Site Assignment Procedure. All other applicants shall be ranked according to a seniority system. Seniority shall be calculated by counting the number of vending seasons that the vendor has purchased an LNV license (of any duration) issued under Secs. 9.13(3)(a) 1. or 2., counting backwards from the present, and subtracting any demerit points (see Sec. 9.13(6)(n)5.). However, a vendor may take one (1) vending season as a sabbatical (not purchase a license that season) without losing seniority, but that year will not be counted toward the vendor's total number of years of seniority. If a vendor goes two (2) consecutive vending seasons without purchasing a LNV license, the vendor will lose all years of seniority and be placed at the bottom of the seniority list upon their next application for a site. For individual applicants, the name on the current LNV application and the LNV license used for seniority must be the same. If more than one applicant was issued an LNV license on the same date, the time of day that the license is created will determine seniority. If the time is not available, seniority will be determined by a coin toss conducted by the Vending Coordinator or designee.
5. Demerit Points for Late Night License Applications. One (1) year of seniority will be subtracted for each demerit point described below:
a. One (1) demerit point will be assessed for any violation of Sec. 9.13, the Regulations adopted thereto, or any other violation listed in Sec. 9.13(8)(a) (except for serious health code violations described below). A violation counts as a demerit point if charged in a citation or civil or criminal complaint with a date of violation in the previous vending season.
b. Serious Health Code Violations: Five (5) demerit points will be assessed if the applicant's food and drink permit has been suspended or revoked for seven (7) or more consecutive days during the previous vending season, or if the applicant's vending cart or mobile base kitchen has been ordered by the public health department to suspend or cease all operations for seven (7) or more consecutive days during the previous vending season.
c. For purposes of Sec. 9.13(6)(n)5.a. and b., violations issued to the person named on the basic street vending license, the holder of the mobile cart license(s), if applicable, and the person or business listed as the applicant for the Late Night Vending license will all be counted.
d. If an applicant's vending license has ever been suspended or revoked under Sec. 9.13(8), the number of days the license was been suspended or revoked shall be subtracted from the total number of days counted for seniority. Suspensions or revocations against the person named on the basic street vending license and the person or business applying for the late night vending license shall be counted.
6. Late Night Vending License Fees. Late Night Vending licenses are issued per food vending cart or stand, valid from April 15 to April 14, with the following fees:
a. Small push-carts that can be moved by hand, of a size and construction that does not meet the definition of "vehicle" under Wis. Stat. § 340.01(74) and that fit entirely within a footprint of 4 feet by 8 feet: $200/annual.
b. All other food vending carts or stands: $500/annual.
7. Violations. No person shall conduct the activities for which an LNV license is required herein without having been issued a valid LNV license, and no person shall vend in any LNV zone or site without being assigned to that zone or site. For those areas listed in Sec. 9.13(6)(n)3., no person shall vend in a location other than one of the assigned sites. No person shall violate any other provision of Sec. 9.13(6)(n).
- Large Carts: $650.00 per year
- Pushcarts: $200.00 per year
How to Apply for a Late Night Food Vending License
You can apply online or by mail.
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Street Vendor License (required for each vendor)
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Business Tax Registration
Applying for an Latenight Vending License Online
- The application for this license can be completed on the City of Madison Licenses & Permits portal. Go to City of Madison Licenses & Permits portal.
- If you do not have one already, you must create an account on the Licenses & Permits portal to fill out the application. HINT: once you have submitted your registration you will be sent a confirmation email. Check your junk mail if you do not see it in your inbox. You must click on the link provided in the email to activate your account before you can sign in.
- Please note that you must obtain a City of Madison Street Vendor License before you can apply for the Arts & Crafts License.
- Once you login to your account go to the Licenses/Registrations section, select Apply for a License/Registration and then choose Vending - Late Night.
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Complete the Late Night Food,Vending License Application.
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Complete the Application for Electrical Use.
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Submit an insurance certificate (General liability insurance at a minimum of one million dollars, naming City of Madison as Additional Insured). Go to Insurance Requirements.
Public Health Requirements
Contact Meghan Blake-Horst, Street Vending Coordinator
- PH: 608-261-9171
- FAX: 608-261-6126
- EMAIL: streetvending@cityofmadison.com
- MAIL ADDRESS:
Department of Planning & Community & Economic Development
Economic Development Division
Office of Business Resources
P.O. Box 2983
Madison WI 53701-2983 - PHYSICAL ADDRESS:
215 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd, 3rd Floor
Madison WI 53703
Full Service Food Trucks at Special Events
Full service food trucks may operate in Madison only at special events and/or if licensed to vend in City of Madison parks. The maximum size for a Mall / Concourse food cart is 56 square feet. Elsewhere in Madison, the maximum size for a food cart is 10 feet by 12 feet.
Guidelines Resources
Bike Path Vending Prohibited
It is illegal to vend on any Madison bike path, bike way or recreational trail.
Recycling Awareness
Food vendors are encouraged to use recyclable and biodegradable utensils, containers and napkins.