Frequently Asked Questions

Prior to 2025, mobile food vendors were banned from operating within the City of Westfield unless they received special permission. The current rules and regulations ensure transparency as well as hold mobile vendors accountable, require that they have an active stake in our community, and provide them the ownership to move freely between approved locations throughout the year. This permitting process is commonly used in Hamilton County, across Indiana, and around the country.

Also prior to 2025, all special events within the City of Westfield were subject to approval by the city council. If approved, the fee was then $250 for each occurrence. This prohibited our residents from having mobile food vendors at reoccurring events that brought neighbors together. With the current Temporary Use and Events Permit, businesses and neighborhoods are entrusted with the management of their own special events, encouraging more engagement in Westfield.

• Businesses within a Planned Unit Development (PUD) that legally permit mobile food vendors by zoning right do not require a temporary use and events permit. Currently, this only applies to Grand Junction Brewery and Urban Apples. 
• Events hosted or organized by the City of Westfield, Westfield Washington Township, Westfield Washington Schools, or Hamilton County Government does not require a Temporary Use and Events Permit.
• Ice cream or snow cone vendors that are stationary for no more than fifteen (15) minutes at a time do not require a Mobile Food Vendor License.
• Mobile food vehicles operated by the following organizations are still required to obtain a Mobile Food Vendor License but are exempt from having to pay any fees: fraternal organizations, nonprofits, religious institutions, schools, and, pursuant to Indiana Code 25-25-2-1, all honorably discharged veterans. 
• Non-incorporated businesses that are commonly operated by children to sell beverages and/or snack foods.
• Private events if the mobile food vehicle is used for catering purposes and individual transactions do not take place.
• Tent vendors if operating within an already approved event or location.

Persons wishing to dispense beer or wine at their event must first obtain a temporary permit from the State of Indiana. Then, they must submit a new Temporary Use and Events Permit application with the City of Westfield for each occurrence.

A temporary, short-term event that is open to the public, such as fundraising or non-commercial events for nonprofit religious, educational, or community service organizations; promotional activities intended to attract attention to a specific place, business, organization, event, or district; and events intended primarily for entertainment or amusement, such as concerts, festivals, or carnivals.

• Within the obstruction of any street, sidewalk, driveway, parking lot aisle, public right-of-way, and/or 20 feet of an intersection.
• Within 100 feet from a front entrance or outdoor dining area of any restaurant during its posted operating hours unless granted written approval from any and all restaurants within the same proximity.
• Within 100 feet of the right-of-way (ROW) of US 31 or Hwy 32.
• Within the area identified as Park Street.
• Within the area identified as Grand Park.

All mobile food vehicles within the City of Westfield shall only operate within the hours of 8:00 A.M. – 11:00 P.M. No mobile food vehicles shall be parked overnight or left unattended and unsecured at any time.

Anyone who operates without a mobile food vehicle license will be issued a fine of $1,500 for their first offense, $3,000 for their second offense, and $5,000 for their third offense, or each thereafter. 

All permit fees go toward the general operations of the City of Westfield to help offset administrative costs. By becoming a partner with the City of Westfield, your mobile food vehicle or organization will be registered on either the Approved Mobile Food Vendor List or Approved Permit Locations. These publicly available registrations will provide an opportunity for entities to reach out to each other and have mutually beneficial events.