Pasco County is close to rolling out the welcome mat to food trucks as a dining option.
The Pasco County Planning Commission approved a proposed food truck ordinance at its Aug. 9 meeting in Dade City.
Next, the Pasco County Commission will consider the ordinance, which establishes regulations on food trucks, as well as “veggie vans.”
Members of the county’s Food Policy Advisory Council helped craft the proposed ordinance. The advisory council also helped create the county’s first ordinance on community gardens.
Food trucks currently operate under regulations for special events, such as the Kumquat Festival in Dade City.
The Pasco County Fairgrounds is exempt from the ordinance because there already is a food venue agreement in place for that site.
If the ordinance is approved, no permits or registration would be required.
The ordinance aims to encourage more food truck events, including food truck rallies.
Other state agencies, including the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulations, already regulate food truck operations for health and safety.
“Qualifying mobile food operations will be those having obtained all required permits and licenses from the State of Florida,” according to the county’s ordinance.
The county would, however, impose special regulations to operate a permanent food truck “court.”
Those venues typically have multiple food truck selections in one location, and provide amenities, such as restrooms, seating, trash cans and play areas.
Football tailgaters don’t need to fret that the barbecue ribs, chicken, hot dogs and burgers served up from the back of their trucks will be governed by the new ordinance.
“It doesn’t regulate folks doing private tailgating,” said Denise Hernandez, the county’s zoning administrator. “This is for public consumption (of food) being sold to the public.”
The history of food trucks dates back centuries to when street vendors sold their wares from pushcarts. Charles Goodnight gets credit for the first chuck wagon that trailed along with cowboys during cattle drives in the West in the mid-1800s.
The more recent food truck fad started several years ago, and has become a permanent feature of the food industry.
Operating hours for food trucks generally would be from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. However, a location abutting residential would be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Food trucks would not be able to park overnight. If they operate from one location more than 90 days, the county would consider the operation permanent. Other regulations would then apply.
The ordinance also allows county departments, such as parks and recreation, to reach individual agreements for temporary food truck operations on county-owned property. A reservation fee, to be determined by each department, may be required.
By Kathy Steele
Published August 22, 2018
