News

Louisville food trucks plan to sue city over restrictions

June 28, 2017

Food truck owners in Louisville, Kentucky plan to sue the city over its ban on operating food trucks in close proximity to restaurants, according to The Courier-Journal.

Food truck owners say city inspectors have asked them to move their vehicles from locations that inspectors say are too close to restaurants serving similar foods.

"We've been asked to move when we've been downtown because a restaurant nearby sold sandwiches," Williams said. "We sell barbecue."

Food truck owners Troy King and Robert Martin argue that large areas are now off limits to food trucks.

Under the city ordinance, mobile food vendors cannot operate within 150 feet of any restaurant offering a "main featured item or items" similar to a nearby restaurant unless given permission by the restaurant. 

Arif Panju, an attorney with the Institute for Justice, said Louisville's 150-foot ban violates food truck owners' rights.

"No Food Truck" signs have recently appeared along downtown streets.

Chris Williams, owner of 502 Cafe, a barbecue food truck that's been operating since 2013, said there was no discussion between city officials and food truck owners about the signs.