Elk Grove to Consider New Food Truck Laws

On Thursday, five food trucks and followers of the Sacramento mobile food festival organizer SactoMofo will gather in Elk Grove for a bite to eat.

At the same time, the Elk Grove Planning Commission will consider proposing changes to the laws that govern where food trucks can operate in the city.

The SactoMofo meet will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at , 9340 E. Stockton Blvd. The planning commission will meet at 6:30 p.m. at , 8400 Laguna Palms Way.

, food truck vendors criticized Elk Grove's current laws, which require the sellers to move their vehicles every 15 minutes if they're parked on a public street. A proposal before the planning commission this week could extend that time limit to three hours, as well as extend the city's food truck curfew from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Any recommendation from the planning commission would have to be later approved by the Elk Grove City Council.

Below is the full text of the proposed changes, from a staff report:

1. All mobile food vendors shall obtain all required permits from the City (e.g. General and Special Business License), Sacramento County, and the State, if applicable.
2. All mobile food vendors shall comply with the California Vehicle Code and California Health and Safety Code.
3. Mobile food vendors shall not operate within 350 feet of a public or private school in which children at or below the twelfth (12th) grade level are enrolled and which is in session.
4. Mobile food vendor vehicles (if more than a two (2) axle vehicle) shall not be parked at a private residence.
5. Hours of operation shall be no earlier than seven o’clock (7:00) A.M. and no later than ten o’clock (10:00) P.M. and no overnight parking shall be permitted.
6. Food sales (not including set-up and take-down) shall be limited to three (3) hours at a single location in a 24-hour period, unless otherwise authorized by permit or entitlement issued by the City, including but not limited to, a conditional use permit, temporary use permit, or street permit.
7. Generally, mobile food vendors shall not sell any non food item, including, but not limited to, toys, clothing, or fireworks. However, accessory retail of branding merchandise, such as t-shirts and hats, is permitted limited to 5% of total sales.
8. Private Property.
   1. Mobile food vendors operating on private property that is not an active construction site shall have authorization from the property owner prior to conducting business. Vendor shall be able to demonstrate property owner authorization.
   2. Mobile food vendor shall not use or permit use of parking spaces on the site if doing so will adversely affect the on-site parking available for the primary use of the site as determined by the Planning Director.
   3. At no time shall the operation of the mobile vendor impact the on-site vehicle circulation (e.g., drive aisles).
   4. Vendor shall have adequate lighting to ensure customer safety either on the vehicle or at the location of the vehicle during business hours.
9. Public Right-of-Way.
   1. Mobile food vendors may not stop, stand, or park in any clear vision triangle or no
      parking zone.
   2. Mobile food vendor shall maintain a space on the sidewalk of at least four (4’ 0”) feet in width for the clear movement of pedestrians. c.
   3. The location of the mobile vendor shall not impede the free flow of traffic, distract vehicle operators from observing traffic regulations, obstruct the view of pedestrians and of vehicle operators, or encourage pedestrians who wish to inquire about services to cross the street in an unsafe and illegal manner.
10. Residential and Agricultural Zones. Mobile food vendors shall not park longer than required in order to complete a single transaction adjacent to the premises or residents of the customer, patron or purchaser.
11. Standards for ice cream trucks. Standards for Ice Cream Trucks shall be governed under California Vehicle Code Section 22456. In addition, development and operational standards in EGMC Section 23.83.050 shall apply to Ice Cream Trucks. To the extent that 23.83.050 is more restrictive it shall supersede the requirements of Vehicle Code Section 22456.