Fees and Ordinances
Fees
Basic Street Vendor License
Required for every individual who conducts sales on public property within the City of Madison.
Annual: $250.00
Monthly: $150.00
Additional License Fees
Mall / Concourse Food Vendor License
Required for each food vending operation in addition to the Street Vendor License for each individual involved in vending our Umbrella Street Vending License.
Annual Only: $1,250.00
Pro-rated after food cart review: $750.00
Umbrella Street Vendor License (Food Vendors ONLY)
Umbrella License for three or more Street Vendor Licenses. This is now available to all vendors selling food citywide.
Annual: $600.00
Food Cart Public Health Permits
Renewal invoices will be mailed mid-May. Requred before vending licenses can be issued.
Go to Food & Drink Information (Public Health Madison & Dane County).
Sidewalk Cafe License
Mall/Concourse sidewalk cafes: $5.50 per square foot.
NOTE: 400 block W. Gilman: $3 per square foot.
- Construction discount: A dollar amount equal to 33% of the total as calculated above. (Discount applicability determined by Vending Coordinator and City Attorney.)
- Cafes reduced in size due to proximity to street vending site – Saturdays only. Annual fee calculated above, reduced by 5%. (Discount applicability determined by Vending Coordinator and City Atty. Café License must include 2 café dimensions - the regular size, and the size when reduced by proximity to Saturday street vendor.)
City-wide/not mall concourse cafes: $3 per square foot.
All café measurements are to exclude any tree grates or other unuseable space as determined by the Vending Program Supervisor.
Mall / Concourse Arts & Crafts Vendor License
Required for a maximum of two people per license in addition to the Street Vendor License for each individual vendor.
Annual: $500.00
Monthly: $150.00
Regular Site (Annual License Only): $150.00
Merchant Vendor
Annual Only: $250.00
Camp Randall Football Season High Density Vendor License
Each individual must also have a Street Vendor License or for food vendors an Umbrella Street Vending License.
Season Only (August - November)
Food: $750.00
Goods: $600.00
Late Night Vending License
Based on cart size. Each individual must also have a Street Vendor License or Umbrella Street Vendor License.
Large Cart: $650.00
Small Cart (push carts): $200.00
Southeast Campus Vending Area
Each individual must also have a Street Vendor License or Umbrella Street Vending License.
Annual: $400.00
Top of State Vending Overlay District (TOSVOD)
Each individual must also have a Street Vendor License or Umbrella Street Vending License.
Annual: $50
Ordinances & Regulations
Street Vending in Madison is governed by the Madison General Ordinance and associated Regulations for High Density Vending Areas. Street Vending includes mobile food vending, art & craft vending, sidewalk and roadway cafés, merchant vending, game day vending, goods vending, ticket sales, Tabling, Expressive and Mobile vending, and banners over pedestrian bridges.
- MGO 9.13 - Street Vending Licenses
- MGO 9.135 - Sidewalk Cafe and Roadway Cafe Expansion Licenses
- MGO 9.136 - Street Vending on the State Street Mall/Capitol Concourse
- MGO 9.54 - Equipment Placement on Sidewalks and Terraces, Permits for Information Tables and Expressive Street Vending
- MGO 31.046(2)(c)6. General location requirements for portable signs and signage for Sidewalk & Roadway Cafes and Merchant Vending
- MGO 33.17 - Business and Economic Resources Committee
- Regulations Governing Vending in High Density Vending Areas
- Regulations Governing Vending on the State Street Mall/Capitol Concourse
Enforcement
The Street Vending Program Supervisor and the Street Vending Monitor have citation-writing authority for related vending Ordinances and Regulations. In addition, any City of Madison Police officer may enforce Madison Street Vending Ordinances and Regulations. In most cases, vendors will first be given verbal correction when a procedure is not being properly followed. If the problem persists, a written notice will be issued appropriately to the degree of the infraction. Citations costing substantial fees are written when appropriate. After receiving three vending-related citations, a vendor will be summoned before the Business and Economic Resource Committee, which usually results in at least a thirty-day suspension of a vendor's license but could be subject to a license revocation.