Food Truck Operations

The bill creates a reciprocal licensing and permitting system for the operation of food trucks within the jurisdictions of local governments in the state. The bill requires a local government to grant the owner or operator of a food truck a reciprocal business license, reciprocal health department permit, and reciprocal fire safety permit (reciprocal license and reciprocal permits), which reciprocal license and reciprocal permits allow the owner or operator of a food truck to operate within the local government's jurisdiction, if the owner or operator of a food truck:

• Has an active business license from another local government;
• Has an active health department permit from another local government;
• Has an active fire safety permit from another local government; and
• Pays applicable application and licensing and permitting fees.

A local government must review an application for the reciprocal license and reciprocal permits within 14 calendar days after receiving the application and decide whether to approve or deny the application. The local government may deny the application under certain circumstances. The local government may collect an application fee and charge reduced licensing and permitting fees for granting the reciprocal license and reciprocal permits.

The bill prohibits the governing body of a local government from adopting an ordinance, resolution, regulation, zoning code, or other code that:

• Prohibits the operation of a food truck in a zone in which a food establishment is considered a permitted or conditional use;
• Restricts the total number of days a food truck may be operated within the local government's jurisdiction during a calendar year; or
• Prohibits the operation of a food truck within a certain distance of another food establishment, unless the specified distance is less than 50 feet.
  (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)