Various food vending pilot programs were launched in the first four months of the year. Let’s hope these trial runs will have positive outcomes and serve as a benchmark for future ordinance and regulations. April 21st brought about lots of positive news from the industry.

1/6/15 Freeport, ME – The town now allows food trucks during concerts and festivals. The food trucks must be parked on private property but are not allowed to park in private parking lots in Village Commercial Districts 1-4. Fees for operating in town are at $500 for a year or $30 for one day of operation or $150 for 30 days.

2/6/15 Mc. Kinney, TX – Amendments to a zoning ordinance now allow food trucks to operate within any non-residential district and are allowed on public property with written permission from the property owner, though they cannot be within 300 feet of an existing restaurant or food service establishment unless their operator gets written permission from that establishment. Food trucks in McKinney must also be at least 1,000 feet from each other, and only one is permitted on a property smaller than five acres. Larger properties may host two food trucks for every five acres, and a particular property’s limit is six food trucks.

2/24/15 London, ON – A food truck pilot program will be launched for up to 8 participants this coming fall. An annual license would cost $1,225. A proposed installation of a GPS on each truck has been scrapped but the operational restriction of 100 metres from schools and special events and 25 metres from restaurants and residential units still applies. As of press time only 3 licenses have been applied for.

3/12/15 Kansas City, MO – A new ordinance restricts food truck operators to set up near the Big 12 Championship Tournament. Street food vendors are banned from areas such as the Power and Light District and from most of 13th Street in downtown. Food trucks must also remain 50 feet away from restaurants and other food establishments.

3/25/15 Bloomington, IN – An ordinance was passed that would require food trucks and other mobile food vendors to stay 50 feet away from brick-and-mortar establishments. The ordinance would also place noise restrictions on the generators they use.

4/6/15 Des Moines, IO – A food truck pilot program has been approved wherein food trucks can park and vend in Western Gateway Park, the East Village, on the Locust Street Bridge and the area surrounding the Polk County Courthouse. Vendors will need to park at metered spots, any day of the week between 5:30 a.m. and 1:30 a.m. and will pay $900 for a six-month permit.

4/11/15 Springfield, IL – Food trucks are not allowed to set up with 300 feet of an existing restaurant. There are exceptions for a designated zone downtown, wherein the distance restriction becomes 50 feet. An annual licensing fee of $250 has also been imposed.

4/14/15 Turlock, CA – Food trucks are not permitted in downtown Turlock anymore. This includes downtown core, downtown core transitional, and office residential overlay districts. The ban does cover the south side of downtown which is part industrial and lacks the charm and pedestrian-friendliness of the core.

4/21/15 Albany, NY – The city will increase the number mobile food vendor permits under its food truck pilot program. It will issue 25 permits this year. The season and operating hours have also been extended and now runs from May to October.

Virginia Beach, VA – An outdoor food truck park by Eat the Streets 757 has been granted a one-year conditional-use permit to operate at the Oceanfront.

Milwaukee, WI – A proposal to ban food trucks in residential neighborhoods has been rejected.

Horry County, SC – County Council passed an ordinance for the trucks to operate, further discussions will follow on some of the possible provisions of the ordinance on May 16th.