Food carts and crowds on State Street Mall.
Economic Development

Mall Concourse

Food Vendors in the Mall Concourse Area

Applications are open for the 2026 Food Cart Review. All applicants for Mall/Concourse Food Vendor licenses, including returning Mall/Concourse food vendors, are required to participate in this annual Fall Food Cart Review prior to applying for a Mall/Concourse Food Vending license and being assigned a site within the Mall/Concourse. Please click on the map link on this page to see the boundaries of the Mall Concourse Vending Area.

This process will determine the eligibility for food vendors and site assignments for the vending season that runs April 15, 2027 - April 14, 2028.

The application deadline is August 1, 2026. Please refer to the eligibility list at the link below before submitting the application. If you have any questions, please contact the Street Vending Program Supervisor.

Apply

The 2026 review will take place September 14, 2026 - October 10, 2026. 

Between 9/14/26 - 10/10/26, reviewing hours will be:

Monday through Friday from 11a-2p
Saturdays from 9a-1p

NOTE: You are required to be open for business during these hours. If you are opening after 11a or closing before 2p, or 9a and 1p on Saturday, you may be marked absent for the day.

All Mall/Concourse food vending sites for the current vending year have already been assigned. Applications must be submitted by August 1st each year in order to apply for a Mall/Concourse food cart site during the following year.

This page list the guidelines for Mall/Concourse Food Vending. If you are looking to vend other permitted items then please visit: Arts and Crafts or  Tables, Expressive Vending, and Mobile Sales.

I want to vend at the Dane County Farmers Market on Saturday!

More information about the Dane County Farmers Market 

 

Who is allowed at a Mall Food Vending Site?

A Food Vendor is an individual who offers for sale only personally prepared food for which that individual is regularly involved in all phases of both the production and the sale of the food. In addition, a food vendor may be a corporation, cooperative or partnership; however, the application and license shall designate a primary individual who is all regularly involved in all phases of the production process and responsible for the vending operation and who holds a valid Basic street vending license or is included on a Umbrella Basic License held by the food vendor under Sec. 9.13(3). A Food Vendor shall be licensed to sell only the personally prepared food items indicated on the face of the license from one assigned food vending site.

Supplemental Food Vendors. A food vendor may employ supplemental vendors who need not be individually named on the food vending application or license and who conduct vending activities such as selling, accepting money, and engaging in commercial interactions with customers. Any supplemental vendors under this paragraph must hold valid basic street vendor licenses or be included on an Umbrella Basic License held by the food vendor, within fourteen (14) days of being employed by the food vendor.

What is considered Personally Prepared Food?

Personally prepared food is food or beverage produced by the vendor from raw or basic ingredients, changing the nature, form, shape or function. Any food sold on the Mall/Concourse shall comply with City and State Health Regulations. In addition, the category 'personally prepared food' shall include the following:

  • Fruit sold by the piece or in individual-sized portions.
  • Condiments and other incidental ingredients given free with personally prepared food, but not including commercially packaged, prepared or produced drinks.
  • Coffee if prepared and brewed from beans that are locally roasted, meaning roasted at a facility located in Dane County, and tea brewed by the vendor from loose ingredients.
  • Food grown or raised by vendor.
  • Hotdogs, bratwurst or other sausages, and commercially produced buns.
  • Milk in individual portion sized containers.
  • Commercially produced soda water beverages in containers not made of glass or other shatterable material sold in conjunction with a personally prepared food item. Soda water beverage as used herein means all beverages commonly known as soft drinks or soda water.

What Health Department Licenses do I need to be a vendor?
  • Service Base
  • Mobile Food Establishment
  • Transient Food Stand License (when applicable, not for daily vending)

Are there any size requirements to be a vendor in the Mall Concourse Vending Area?

YES! The maximum size for a Mall/Concourse and Southeast Campus food cart is 56 square feet. Example

When do I have to apply and what is the Food Cart Review?

All current license holders and new applicants must participate in the Fall Food Cart Review to determine eligibility. This mandatory juried review process takes place every year beginning the first Monday after Labor Day and runs for 30 days.

  1. 8/1 application due date for participating in the Food Cart Review. The link will go live on this page in July annually
  2. Staff review applications for eligibility
  3. New vendors, existing vendors review dates
  4. Review first Monday after Labor Day – 30 days
    1. Monday through Friday from 11a-2p (Existing license holders with a weekday site assignment). 
    2. Saturdays from 9a-1p (Existing Saturday only vendors and NEW applicants).
  5. Scores submitted September
  6. October Scores announced
  7. January Application portal opens
  8. License with site assignments begin April 15 annually

Food Cart Review Scores:

Food Cart Review Score Sheet Criteria

2025 Food Cart Review Scores

How to Apply

  1. Intake Appointment

    New vendors only must schedule an intake appointment to review food vending zones, rules, and process. To schedule an intake appointment contact streetvending@cityofmadison.com.

  2. Annual Food Cart Review

    Complete the Annual Food Cart Review and qualify to apply for the following vending season. Link will go live here in July.

  3. Required Documents and Preparation

    • Wisconsin State Seller's Permit
    • General Liability Insurance
    • Service Bace License (Public Health Madison-Dane County)
    • Mobile or Transient Food Establishment License (Public Health Madison-Dane County)
    • Single document with images of all four sides of the mobile unit. Include business name and contact details.

  4. Apply

    Apply Online

    Fees are paid after application is reviewed and approved by staff.

    Need help with your online application? Contact IT Support elamsupport@cityofmadison.com call 608-261-4293.

    • Click on Licenses/Registration at the top of the page
    • Click on Apply for a License/Registration
    • Select STREET VENDOR APPLICATION to begin the process
    • When asked “What are you vending" select Food.
    • When asked “Where do you want to sell" select Mall Concourse. This will open the application for both the Street Vendor and Southeast Campus Vending Area licenses.
    • Fill in the required information 
    • Attach required documents: Wisconsin State Seller's Permit, General Liability Insurance, Service Base License, Mobile or Transient Food Establishment License, and a document with images of all four sides of the mobile unit that includes the business name and contact details.
    • Review application for accuracy
    • Submit – You will receive an email notification once the application is fully submitted. 

  5. Application Review

    Staff review application and follow-up with any questions or additional information required.

  6. Invoice and Payment

    • Invoice is issued via email for fees due.
    • Log back on to your account.
    • Pay fees.

  7. License Issuance

    License issued and active as of 4/15 annually.

Frequently Asked Questions

How are sites assigned to vendors?

Mall/Concourse sites are formally assigned based on a rank-ordered list of Food Cart Review scores and seniority points.  Seniority points are based on the number of years a vendor has purchased a Mall/Concourse Food Vending License with a maximum of 5 seniority points.

Is there access to electricity at the vending sites?

Yes. Contact Street Vending staff for more information.

Can I keep my tow vehicle and other staff vehicles near my site when operating?

No. Tow vehicles must be removed from the State Street Mall Area, including alleyways, and parked in a legal parking space, after unloaded. NO sales may take place with the tow vehicle present.

The following links are resources you can use to find real-time parking availability throughout the City of Madison.

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