Iowa City Today

During its March 28 meeting, the Coralville City Council heard the first reading of a new ordinance that would establish regulations for mobile vendors, including food trucks.

It was noted in the meeting, which was streamed on YouTube, that the City does not have any permit or license requirements for food trucks, instead viewing food trucks as short-term operations.

“All food trucks are required to be on private property,” City attorney Kevin Olsen said during the meeting. “We're not allowing, some cities allow them on public property, but we are not doing that. So [they still have to adhere to these rules], that is the way it's written right now.”

During the meeting, Community Development Director David Johnson told the council that he conducted research to see what other communities do regarding permits for mobile vendors, ensuring the City would be consistent in its regulations. The resolution was the result of those efforts.

The proposal would not require license holders to obtain a second permit for special events, and the council learned during the discussion that larger events in the city—including the Fifth Street Social or the RAGBRAI event—set out permit requirements for any vendors participating in the event. The regulation would also include local businesses that use good trucks or other mobile vendors during an open house for special events.

Providing for operations in the city, the council learned that the ordinance would include some guidelines for mobile vendors, including the restriction of only parking in one space for no more than three consecutive days. Additionally, the trucks must be moved each night to avoid being viewed as a more permanent operation.

It was also noted during the meeting that the food trucks must operate on private property and cannot set up shop in public areas, and they must obtain a permit in addition to permission from property owners.

During the meeting, the council did not amend or change the ordinance, which will receive additional readings before final approval. The council also did not clarify whether vendors would have to meet any regulations to operate while the ordinance makes its way through the legislative process.