Council Adopts New Food Truck Regulations on Split Vote

SAN ANGELO, TX — San Angelo City Council members adopted new regulations for food trucks during their regular meeting Tuesday.

By a six to one vote, the council adopted the amendment to the zoning ordinance regulating mobile food trucks on private and public property. 

Councilman Lane Carter cast the lone vote against the new regulations.

According to information from city staff, the new ordinance included changes since the first reading was approved. 

The changes included:

• Exemptions for private catering activities
• Exempted snow cone and ice cream trucks from the requirement to not locate within 200 feet of a residence
• Added a definition for ‘Snow Cone Vendor.’
• Clarified that operating within 100 feet of a restaurant applies to operating in the right-of-way
• Changed from four to six hours for operation in residential areas at apartments, churches, schools, etc.
• Required all weather surfaces for all food trucks
• For food trucks in the right-of-way it changed from a four hour limit to a 12 hour limit
• Clarified that commissaries must meet all applicable zoning regulations for the relevant zoning district

As we reported earlier, city staff maintain the new regulations would greatly expand where food trucks can operate throughout the city.  The conversation quickly strayed from zoning issues to additional requirements food trucks must follow. New this year is a requirement the each food truck drive to city hall in January to prove they are mobile.  And the permit fee went from $100 per year to $150 per year. Food truck operators in attendance Tuesday said didn’t need any additional regulations.

According to the amended ordinance the changes take effect immediately.