News

Tennessee city struggles with food truck ordinance

October 3, 2017

The municipal planning commission in Columbia, Tennessee postponed making a recommendation for the city's food truck ordinance after failing to agree on what defines a business as "mobile" and how long it should remain at a certain location each day, according to The Daily Herald.

The city currently does not have an ordinance governing food trucks, which are growing.

The definition is difficult because food truck uses vary. There are also businesses like weekly produce stands that, while not at multiple locations like a food truck, can be considered "mobile" because they are not housed in a permanent structure.

Paul Keltner, director of development services, said the permits would follow different regulations than a permanent business would and be valid for a year. 

Planners will revisit the item at the commission's November meeting.