Food Truck Fad Running Up Against Local Ordinances

The food truck craze has spread across the country. And as the trucks grow in popularity, communities are starting to take a closer look at how they regulate them.

While some folks may not see a downside to cupcakes and tacos on wheels, cities are wrestling with the parking shortages, crowds, and diesel fumes that come along with the trend. Brick-and-mortar restaurants are also increasingly frustrated by the competition from mobile restaurants that face much lower overhead costs.

The New York Times reports that cities are increasingly tightening parking regulations for food trucks and requiring that they park a certain distance from restaurants.

The issue recently came to a head in New London when a local vendor appealed the city’s decision to enforce a 2007 ordinance restricting street vendors from its central business district. The city council
ultimately decided to allow the vendor to operate in the district during lunch hours on Fridays only.