News

Napa food truck industry undeterred by dated regulations

November 19, 2018

A Napa, California, regulation that says rolling vendors must move every quarter-hour isn't stemming the city's growing food truck business.

In fact the ordinance isn't getting any attention when it comes to updating, according to a Napa Valley Register report.

"These rules are dated — they were meant for vendors who would walk around and sell items, not for those who set down and sell," Napa City Assistant Planner Jose Cortez told the Register.

The city does track complaints regarding street vending but is not actively patrolling due to time and staffing restrictions, Cortez told the publication.

Today's regulatory view is far different than it was seven years ago when there was discussion about oversight of mobile eateries and whether new requirements, for hand washing stations and portable toilets, were necessary, noted the report.

City Senior Planner Michael Allen said that a diminishing number of vendors has led to less interest in regulatory action.

"The stakeholders went away and inquiries for such events also waned," he told the Register. "Our focus turned toward other endeavors and updated regulations didn't go anywhere, so the city's regulations remain unchanged."