News

Virginia city requires background checks for food truck owners

February 27, 2019

The Virginia Beach, Virginia city council recently voted to recognize food truck owners as mobile operators, requiring them to have an annual criminal background check and drawing criticism from some lawmakers and food truck owners. Restaurant owners are not required to have background checks, according to The Virginian-Pilot.

The police chief can deny a business license based on criminal offenses.

Phil Boyer, president of the Virginia Beach Restaurant Association, which has discouraged the council from recognizing food trucks, said he supports background checks for food trucks.

MJ Medlar, a food truck owner who leads a non-profit group called Street Food Revolutionaries that is trying to change the regulations, said Virginia Beach is the most difficult city in Hampton Roads for food trucks to operate in.