ANNA MARIA – The city has new food truck/mobile food dispensing vehicle regulations in place.
The new regulations are set forth in city resolution R23-787, which the city commission adopted by a 4-1 vote on Feb. 9.
The resolution accompanies the food truck/mobile food dispensing vehicle ordinance, Ordinance 23-913, adopted by commissioners on Jan. 26. The ordinance allows food trucks to operate in Anna Maria only on privately-owned properties that carry a C-1 (commercial) zoning designation. The ordinance includes a provision that allows food truck operations elsewhere in the city during city commission-approved special events.
Resolution R23-787 contains the following regulations:
- Every food truck must be a motorized vehicle with a valid tag; no trailer may operate as a food truck.
- No food truck may be longer than 18 feet.
- No more than one food truck shall be located on any one tax parcel.
- No more than one vendor may operate out of one food truck.
- No food truck shall be permitted to operate before sunrise or after sunset.
- Every food truck operator must provide a trash bin and recycle bin and remove all trash and recyclables from bins and properly dispose of it off-site at the end of each day of operation.
- Every food truck operator shall keep the site of the food truck and surrounding areas clean and picked up during hours of operation and shall also clean up the site at the end of each day of operation.
- All food trucks shall be in compliance with any and all state, county and city regulations and laws regarding the operation of food trucks.
Recently appointed Commissioner Charlie Salem initiated a discussion about a proposed regulation that would have required food truck operators to provide temporary seating for their patrons. Salem noted food trucks are often considered “grab and go” dining options and requiring tables and chairs might result in more objects being placed in the temporary food service area than the city wants.
Commission Chair Mark Short said he proposed the seating requirement as a way to help ensure that food containers and other trash associated with the food truck operation are properly disposed of. Short said it wasn’t his intent to require all food purchased from a food truck to be eaten in the provided seating area. Short later voted against the resolution after the proposed seating requirement was removed.
Commissioner Robert Kingan questioned whether requiring food truck operators to provide tables and chairs might be considered onerous by the state. The commission adopted the food truck ordinance and resolution in response to a state law enacted in 2020 that prevents local governments from prohibiting food truck operations citywide or countywide. The state law also prohibits local governments from imposing additional licensing requirements and/or licensing fees on food truck operators.
Commissioner Jon Crane asked who would enforce the ordinance and the resolution. Mayor Dan Murphy said the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office and the city’s code enforcement officers would enforce both. In response to a question posed during public comment, Murphy said any excessive food truck generator noise would be enforced according to the city’s noise ordinance.
