News

Chicago food truck rules stifle growth, push trucks to the suburbs

August 23, 2017

Chicago’s strict food truck regulations continue to stall the growth that food trucks have experienced in other cities, according to area food trucks, causing food trucks to move to more food truck friendly suburbs, The Chicago Tribune reported.

Gabriel Wiesen, owner of Beavers Donuts, said Chicago limits food trucks to two hours in any one spot, which causes a logistical impossibility when trying to prep and cook fresh food safely.

In addition, trucks cannot park within 200 feet of any structure selling food, including gas stations and vending machines, which eliminates 95 percent of the downtown Loop area, the most viable area for food trucks.

Regulations vary in the suburbs, but they are generally more favorable to food trucks than Chicago.

A recent food truck fest featuring around 30 trucks in the suburb of Elgin drew 6,000 attendees.