Montgomery officials consider updates to food truck law as popularity grows in city
Published: Wed, 04/12/23
Montgomery officials consider updates to food truck law as popularity grows in city
Michael GarciaThe Courier
As the popularity of food trucks continues to grow, Montgomery officials are considering updating a city ordinance that would regulate them. In a proposed ordinance introduced to the planning and zoning commission on April 4, mobile food truck vendors would pay $600 in permit fees for six months. Previously, vendors paid a $50 monthly fee. Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer
As the popularity of food trucks continues to grow, Montgomery officials are considering updating a city ordinance that would regulate them.
Food trucks have been debated in the past by city leaders, with some voicing concerns over mobility and restroom proximity.
A 2021 draft of a then-ordinance stated that mobile food trucks must move every 48 hours and be located within 300 feet of a restroom. City council voted against adopting the ordinance and tabled the issue.There has been no update to the vendor ordinance since 1996, officials said.
In a proposed ordinance introduced to the planning and zoning commission on April 4, mobile food truck vendors would pay $600 in permit fees for six months. Previously, vendors paid a $50 monthly fee.
"Food trucks have exploded in popularity over the past many years and a lot of cities like Montgomery are trying to come up some best practices for this activity," City Administrator Gary Palmer told commissioners during a presentation.
Palmer, who recently started his role as city administrator in January, said that he pulled information from other cities throughout the state and cities with a big food truck culture such as Ashville, North Carolina to see how officials there were regulating them.
"I pulled what I thought were the best ideas of practices that they had into our ordinance," he said, noting that the intention behind presenting the proposed ordinance is to see what has and hasn't worked for other cities. The next steps is to take these ideas and tailor it to the city of Montgomery nd then put it through a public process to get input.
The updates to the ordinance include clear definitions such as mobile food truck courts, which is defined as two or more food trucks that congregate in one area. If an area falls into this definition, business owners may need to go through a special use permit process.This comes after city officials announced its first food truck park in December.
Other updates to the vendor ordinance include exemptions for festivals and ice cream truck vendors as well as the removal of mobility regulations. Previously, food trucks were required to move every 48 hours. Under this new ordinance, it is not required.
The schedule for the fees had also been changed from monthly to six months as a means to regulate food trucks that are coming-and-going versus others that have "skin-in-the-game," Palmer said.This is where the higher permit fee comes into play, he said.
"A serious food truck vendor is not going to come in and pay $600 for a six month permit if they're not serious about doing business," he said.
Some concerns over the ordinance were over the proposed permit fees, with some saying it's a significant increase.
Jeffery Waddell, chairman of the planning and zoning commission, said a full-blown restaurant has more potential of generating revenue than a food truck does. And that food truck owners may have other expenses such as property taxes if they own the land they sit on.Officials are expected to discuss the updates to the vendor ordinance in the coming weeks.