Nevada will welcome riders on Wednesday, July 22, 2026!
To become a licensed mobile food vendor within our city limits requires 4 things:
- Proof of State of Iowa DIAL Inspection certificate
- Proof of liability insurance
- Fire department inspection
- Payment of $50 city permit fee (regardless of RAGBRAI, Downtown Market, or other town event charging a fee)
Renting a truck and hauling food already made and packaged to sell under a tent or on outdoor tables does not require fire department inspection involvement; however, by state law it does require a State of Iowa DIAL certificate and proof of insurance.
Also, just because you have paid the City’s $50 permit fee for the year, doesn’t approve you as a vendor for RAGBRAI. You must reach out to the Main Street Nevada office to see if you can vend on July 22. RAGBRAI vendors in the downtown festival area have a completely separate entrance fee. However, all mobile food vendors must be licensed through the city to participate in selling food anywhere and anytime within our city limits. So even if you have permission to set up as a mobile food vendor on someone’s property outside of the downtown area, you must still meet the City requirements (listed above) and pay the City’s permit fee.
Any unlicensed mobile food vendor in the city will be cited and asked to leave the venue area and cease sales. It is important all mobile food vendors be licensed prior to sales. We are not doing inspections the day of RAGBRAI; it is the vendor’s responsibility to be properly licensed before coming to RAGBRAI.
48.10 PENALTY. Unless another penalty is expressly provided by this chapter for any particular provision or section, violations of this chapter are simple misdemeanors subject to a fine of not more than $625.00 or may be punishable as municipal infractions subject to a civil penalty as set forth in this Code of Ordinances. Each day a municipal infraction occurs and/or is permitted to exist constitutes a separate offense. Police officers and code enforcement officers shall have the authority to issue citations for violations of this chapter, and shall have the discretion to enforce this chapter as either a simple misdemeanor or municipal infraction.
Mobile Food Vendors who are currently approved to vend in the City and have met all requirements can be found at this link: Approved mobile food vendors
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Follow Nevada’s RAGBRAI Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573279347934
Planning in progress and more information coming… contact the Main Street Nevada office with questions: 515-382-6538.