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2026 Fall Food Cart Review - Food Cart Application

Mall/Concourse Food Cart Review Requirements & Applicaiton

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.

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

APPLICATION DEADLINE AUGUST 1, 2026

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.

Food Cart Review Eligibility:
  • The Fall Food Cart Vending Review shall be open to all new applicants and currently licensed food vendors who have obtained all necessary food and drink inspections and hold active:
    • "Base Food and Drink" license AND "Mobile Food and Drink" license required by Public Health Madison-Dane County (PHMDC) OR
    • "Base Food and Drink" license from PHMDC or your home county health department AND a State "Mobile Restaurant License" through the Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP)
    • Saturday ONLY - Transient Food Stand License from PHMDC.
  • All health department licenses must be secured no later than 5 business days prior to the first day of the review. The applicant is responsible for arranging all necessary inspections with PHMDC or DATCP.
  • The applicant will have no significant health violations. A "significant health violation" shall mean any violation of safe food storage and handling ordinances or regulations.
  • Food carts must be 56 square feet in size or a pop-up tent that is a maximum 10x10 (Saturday ONLY).
  • Generators must be rated at 60 decibels or less.
  • Coffee must be roasted in Dane County.
  • All menu items must be personally prepared and listed in detail on the application.
  • No glass bottles.
  • The applicant will have received not more than 2 vending citations or complaints within the period of September 1- August 31 immediately preceding the review.
You will be contacted after August 1st with more details.
1.Contact Information(Required.)
2.Using the slide bar below, select the number of years you have purchased and used a Mall/Concourse Food Vending License (counting backward from today, less any sabbaticals). If you are a new vendor or first-time applicant select 0.(Required.)
0
30
3.Basic Street Vendor or Umbrella Street Vendor License Number (ex: LICSVE-0000-00000).  If you are a new vendor, write NONE.(Required.)
4.Mall/Concourse Food Vendor License Number (LICMFV-0000-00000).  If you are a new vendor, write NONE.(Required.)
5.Current Mobile Food and Drink License issued by Public Health Madison-Dane County (LICFDD-0000-00000 or 00000-00000). If you have Public Health licenses from another county in WI or from the State of WI enter that information here.

You must have current health department licenses by September 4, 2026, to participate in this year's Food Cart Review. If you are in process of securing your Public Health Madison Dane-County Licenses, please write PENDING and the inspection date if you have one scheduled.(Required.)
6.Wisconsin State Seller's Permit Number (ex: 000-0000000000-00)(Required.)
7.Insurance Carrier Name(Required.)
8.Policy Number(Required.)
9.Policy Expiration Date(Required.)
10.Would you prefer to have access to an outlet for City-provided electricity?

We will try to accommodate these requests. However, access to electric ready sites, is not guaranteed and every vendor should always be prepared to use a generator (60 decibels or less).

If using city electrical supply, carts must have one 15-amp circuit breaker or fuse between the cart and the power supply.

There is an additional fee for using City electric. If you are currently assigned a site that included access to electric, there will be no additional fees required.

There is no fee if you are not using City electric and only using your personal generator. (Required.)
11.List all electric appliances that will be used inside your cart:(Required.)
12.List all gas appliances that will be used inside the cart:(Required.)
13.List all menu items.  Be complete and accurate.  You may not sell anything not listed on this application.  Include weekday and weekend menu items if they differ.  By filling out the information below you are verifying that the food you will be vending is your own creation, produced by you and personally prepared.(Required.)
14.Briefly explain your cooking and food preparation process:(Required.)
15.List the length x width x height of your cart (exposed trailer tongue, axle and tires excluded). Same as last year is not an acceptable response. Example: 6'9" x 8' x 10':(Required.)
16.All food carts are required to have a fire extinguisher that is appropriate for their type of cooking.  What type of fire extinguisher do you have on your cart?(Required.)
17.When would you like to vend in the Mall/Concourse during the 2026-2027 vending season? This information is helpful for site numbers and assignments after the completion of the review. (Required.)
18.What side is your service window on?(Required.)
19.Vending Schedule

This is your opportunity to identify dates or days that you have events, you will not be open for business or have other obligation scheduled. This schedule is shared with the reviewers and your attendance will be based on this information.

Unless you identify the dates you will NOT be vending, you are required to be in your assigned vending spaces and open for business Monday-Friday 11a-2p and/or Saturday 9a-1p.

For all vendors, demerit points for missed review days will be issued as follows:
Participants will be penalized for missing assigned days, opening late or closing early during the Food Cart Review.
  • Existing Monday-Friday vendors: will be allowed a grace period of 2 days and will be penalized 1 demerit point for each review day missed in excess of 2 days.
  • Existing Saturday vendors: will be allowed a 1-day grace period and penalized 1 demerit point for each Saturday missed in excess of 1 day.
  • New applicants: no grace period, 1demerit point for each assigned day missed.
Using the below boxes to enter your vending schedule:

New vendors only: If you currently do not hold a Mall/Concourse Food Vending License. New vendors will be assigned to two Saturdays between September 14 - October 10, 2026.
  • Enter NONE in the weekday boxes.
  • In the Saturday box, enter any dates that you are unavailable.
Current Mall/Concourse Food vendors only:
  • In the corresponding day, list any dates you are not available or are closed from September 14 - October 10, 2026
  • All vendors being reviewed Monday - Friday should have at least 10 days of availability to be reviewed.
  • EXAMPLE:
    • Monday: Closed all Mondays during the review.
    • Tuesday: 9/17
    • Wednesday: Open all Wednesdays during the review.
    • Thursday: Open all Thursdays during the review.
    • Friday: Closed all Fridays during the review.
    • Saturday: I do not vend on Saturday.
(Required.)
20.Questions or comments: