The City of Orlando continues to push forward new updates to its Land Development Code, as it relates to Food Trucks and Mobile Vending Services.
The updates are meant to codify regulations that have been in place since 2013 as part of a pilot program that restricted where food trucks and food carts could operate via a citywide Temporary Use Permit. Through the Temporary Use Permit, temporary trucks (twice per week) were allowed in a Main Street or designated regional shopping center, around downtown (except the core), or in a zoning district that already allowed for eating and drinking (which is why you’ve never seen a barbecue truck drive down your residential street).
The pilot program was renewed and extended in 2019 which allowed vending from a truck from certain Right-of-Way locations within the Downtown Entertainment Area, streamlined and clarified the process for allowing permanent, seven-day-a-week operations of food truck pods, and established regulations for all mobile vendors. City staff reported receiving several complaints about noise and parking violations downtown, to the point where the program became unsupportable and was terminated in Fall 2021.
With the proposed code amendment, mobile vendors may operate on private property, in a commercial zoning district (MU-1, MU-2, AC-N, AC-1, AC-2, AC-3, AC-3A, I-C), or on a lot that has an existing business (not a vacant lot). If these restrictions are not met, some exceptions exist for special events and mobile vendors that serve individual customers onsite (such as a dog groomer).
Mobile vendors or service operators would need to meet any required state licensing, obtain a business tax receipt (BTR) and mobile peddler’s sticker to operate in the City, obtain the property owner’s written permission, park the vehicle in a safe location and remove it when not in use, and pick up trash and dispose of trash and grease in a proper and safe manner. But that’s not all, check out the chart below for more information.
The proposed amendment for Food Trucks and Mobile Vending and Services will be presented at the August 20, 2024, Municipal Planning Board (MPB) meeting. If approved, the minutes from the meeting will go before the City Council on Monday, September 23, 2024. If passed, the first and second readings of the ordinance will go before the Orlando City Council in October/November 2024.
