Chapter 17.355 — MOBILE FOOD TRUCK REGULATIONS

This chapter applies to operations of mobile food trucks within the City. No permit or licenses for mobile food trucks shall be issued absent compliance with this chapter.

The following standards apply to mobile food vendors that operate within the public right-of-way and to mobile food vendors that operate on a temporary basis (less than two hours except as allowed by Paragraph I below) with the permission of the property owner on private property or on public property that is not within a road right-of-way.

A. Licenses and Permit Required. Mobile food trucks operating in the City shall obtain a Business License from the City’s Finance Department. The owner and operator of a mobile food truck is responsible for obtaining all necessary licenses and permits required for the service of food and beverages, including a permit for food service from the Sonoma County Department of Health. The mobile food vehicle must be in compliance with State motor vehicle laws.

B. Hours of Operation.

• A. Downtown: All mobile food truck vendors within the Downtown (see Figure 17.08-1) shall cease operation between the hours of 2:30 AM and 7:00 AM.

• B. Elsewhere: All mobile food truck vendors outside of Downtown (see Figure 17.08-1) shall cease operation between the hours of 10:00 PM and 7:00 AM.

C. Mobile food vendors shall not operate on the frontage of any building-enclosed restaurant, except when the restaurant is closed for business or if the mobile food vendor has written authorization from all building-enclosed restaurants at that location.

D. Mobile food vendors shall not stop, stand, or park in any location that obstructs visibility of an intersection or of traffic entering or existing an intersection.

E. Mobile food vendors shall not stop, stand, or park in or adjacent to any no parking or loading zone.

F. Operations within a parking lot shall not conflict with traffic circulation and shall maintain the minimum required on-site parking spaces for the principal use(s) on the property.

G. Mobile food vendors shall not operate on public land or within the public right-of-way within three hundred fifty (350) feet of a public or private school within thirty minutes of the beginning and end of the school day, unless written permission of the school principal has been obtained.

H. Mobile food vendors shall maintain a clear path of travel on the sidewalk pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) free of customer queuing, signage, and/or all portions of the vehicle for the clear movement of pedestrians.

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I. From 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM, a mobile food vendor shall not vend within the public right-of-way at any location for more than two hours without moving to a new location that is at least one full block or 500 feet from the previous location, whichever distance is greater.

J. Mobile food vendors shall maintain trash receptacles immediately adjacent to the vending location for use by their customers and shall pick up all trash within 25 feet of their vending location. Trash shall not be placed in City trash receptacles.

K. Operations must be self-contained in the vehicle. Outside tables, seating, or shade canopies may not be placed in the public right-of-way

L. Alcoholic Beverage. No sales or service of alcohol shall be allowed by mobile food trucks.

M. Exceptions. By conditional use permit, the Planning Commission may grant an exception to these provisions.

Mobile food truck courts are a development on a privately-owned parcel with an individual pad and individual service and utility hook-ups for each mobile food vendor and on-site amenities, such as restrooms, eating areas, etc.) for customers, and are intended for regular food service from mobile food trucks. Mobile food truck courts may have mobile food trucks that operate on a short-term (one hour or less) or long-term basis (more than one hour). Mobile food court developments shall be subject to the following standards:

A. Business License Required. All mobile food truck vendors shall obtain a Business License from the City’s Finance Department. The owner and operator of a mobile food truck is responsible for applying and obtaining all other necessary licenses and permits required for the service of food and beverages. The mobile food vehicle must be in compliance with State motor vehicle laws.

B. An individual pad and individual service and utility hook-ups shall be provided for each mobile food truck.

C. A restroom shall be provided on-site for mobile food truck employees and customers.

D. Pedestrian-oriented amenities, including tables, seating, shaded areas, and landscaping, shall be provided.

E. Mobile food developments are subject to the permit requirements and site development standards established by this code, including SMC17.25.

F. Customer walkup areas may not extend into the public right-of-way.

G. Mobile food trucks operating within a mobile food truck court are not subject to the SMC 17.355.020.

H. Exceptions. By conditional use permit, the Planning Commission may grant an exception to these provisions.

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