Vendors that are interested in selling prepared food, flowers, plants or produce alongside a County road must first obtain a permit. The Engineering & Public Works Department is authorized to issue permits to vendors at certain locations along County roads within unincorporated Palm Beach County. For roads that are within a municipality (a city, town or village), please contact the municipality to see if they offer a program.

For all other programs such as mobile vending and transient vending (see Difference in Vendor License for definition of Licenses) please contact the Zoning Division at 561-233-5200

Steps to take for acquiring a permit for Roadside Vending:

  1. Start by making sure that the Roadside Vendor permit is what you need. Please review the Differences in Vendor License to see which license would pertain to you.
  2. If the Roadside Vendor permit is suitable for your needs, please review the Steps to Acquire a PBC Vendor Permit 2020 and read the Roadside Vendor Ordinance carefully.
  3. Find a location that meets the requirements of the Roadside Vendor Ordinance. Below is a list of some of these requirements. Please review sec. 23-100 of the Roadside Vendor Ordinance for additional requirements.
      a.   Must be on a County owned and maintained right-of-way in unincorporated Palm Beach County.
      b.   Must be at least 1,500 feet from any other approved roadside vendor location.
      c.    Cannot be on the side of road that contains curbing, public sidewalks, driveways, bike paths or pathways or on an improved or maintained swale areas.
      d.  Cannot abut residentially developed property.
  4. Once you have a location selected, please complete and sign your application for a permit. The application can be found in the Steps to Acquire a PBC Vendor Permit 2020 document.  Once you have completed the application, contact the Traffic Division at 561-684-4030 to make an appointment Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00am to 3:00pm to go over your application and pay the application fee. If approved, you will receive an intent to permit.
  5. Within 20 business days from the issue date of the intent to permit, obtain all of the required paperwork for the actual permit. The required paperwork is summarized on page 1 of the Steps to Acquire a PBC Vendor Permit 2020 document.
  6. Once you have all of the required paperwork, contact the Traffic Division at 561-684-4030 to make an appointment Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00am to 3:00pm to go over your paperwork and pay the permit fee. If approved, you will receive your permit.

Road Side Vendor Program Links:

 Frequently Asked Questions
  • Question Mark IconWhat is a roadside vendor (RV)?
    Answer:
    A Roadside Vendor is someone who is selling approved items on the side of the road,. Those who wish to sell on private or commercial property, or want be mobile please review the Differences in Vendor Licenses document.

  • Question Mark IconWhat can I sell?
    Answer:

    You may sell fresh fruits and vegetables, potted plants, fresh cut flowers and prepared food from locations meeting the requirements of the Roadside Vendor Ordinance. No crafts or seafood.


  • Question Mark IconCan I vend on any right of way?
    Answer:

    No, all locations must be approved first by the Palm Beach County Engineering & Public Works Department, Traffic Division. There is a list of requirements that must be met before a location may be approved. For example, you cannot vend where there is a sidewalk, curb, gutter, in front of private homes, on state roads, or within city limits. For additional requirements please review the Roadside Vendor Ordinance.


  • Question Mark IconAre there Roadside Vendor Locations available and where are they?
    Answer:
    The Engineering & Public Works Department does not maintain a list of approved and available locations. The vendors are required to find a location that meets their business needs and the requirements in the Roadside Vendor Ordinance.

  • Question Mark IconWill a permit be required and where can I obtain one?
    Answer:

    Yes, a Roadside Vendor Permit is required for commercial use of county road right of way. Please read the Steps to Acquire a PBC Vendor Permit, posted above, for more information on the application and permit process. For any additional questions, please contact the Traffic Division at 561-684-4030.


  • Question Mark IconHow long is the permit valid?
    Answer:

    Permits are issued for up to a 12 month period and will expire on January 31.


  • Question Mark IconHow much does a permit cost?
    Answer:

    For a new permit, a non-refundable fee of ($100) one hundred dollars shall be submitted with the application for a Roadside Vendor permit.  If approved, you will receive an intent to permit. Once you have all of the required documents and they are approved, the permit itself has a fee of ($250) two hundred and fifty dollars. After July 1, the permit fee is dropped to ($150) one hundred and fifty dollars.


  • Question Mark IconWill I need insurance?
    Answer:

    Yes, all Roadside Vendors must maintain required minimum general liability coverage and a performance bond.


  • Question Mark IconWhat is a performance bond?
    Answer:

    A performance bond can be issued by your insurance company. Its purpose is to secure any costs which may be incurred by the County due to any damage to the right of way caused by a Roadside Vendor.


  • Question Mark IconAre there other required documents I will need?
    Answer:

    Yes, depending on what you are selling, you will need to obtain some of all of the following documents:

    • Valid Hotel & Restaurant Food Service License of the permitted year
    • Certificate of Insurance for General Liability Insurance
    • Performance Bond
    • Florida Annual Resale Certificate for Palm Beach County Sales Tax
    • Local Business Tax Receipt
    For more information on the required documents, please review the Steps to Acquire a PBC Vendor Permit 2020 document.

     


Contact Us

Traffic Division

2300 North Jog Road, 3rd Floor
West Palm Beach, FL 33411
To report a traffic problem, you can contact the Traffic Division by email or phone as follows: