News

Baltimore creates 10 new food truck zones amidst lawsuit against food truck buffer zone

April 13, 2017

Baltimore's food trucks now have more than double the number of designated parking spots after Mayor Catherine Pugh on Wednesday announced the creation of 10 new food truck zones across the city, according to The Baltimore Sun.

The spots, available to trucks on a first-come, first-served basis, are intended to provide more parking areas reserved exclusively for food trucks during the day. Trucks aren't required to operate within the designated zones.

The zones add to the nine designated parking spots for food trucks that the city created several years ago, most of them concentrated in the downtown area. Many of the 10 new zones are located near the city's colleges and hospitals.

"We join the elite cities across the country who recognize what these trucks do for the city," said Pugh, who was joined by members of the city health and transportation departments to announce the new zones.

Per city law, the food truck zones are at least 300 feet from brick and mortar restaurants.

Two local food truck owners, Nikki McGowan and Joey Vanoni, and the Arlington, Va.-based Institute for Justice have filed a lawsuit against the city challenging that 300-foot buffer rule. The suit is ongoing.

Gregory Reed, an attorney with the Institute for Justice representing McGowan and Vanoni, said Wednesday that the creation of additional food truck zones is an attempt to make the city appear food truck-friendly.