Bowie repeals local mobile food vendor permitting and fees after state rule change
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Summary
Council repealed the city's mobile food vendor ordinance and removed a local permit fee after staff said the state altered the permitting regime; council voted unanimously to repeal the city provision and its fee schedule.
The City of Bowie on council motion repealed its local mobile food vendor ordinance and deleted the fee schedule for mobile food-unit permits, saying the state's rules removed the city's permitting authority.
A presenter's summary said state law now governs permitting for mobile food vendors and the city can no longer charge a permit fee. The council approved an ordinance repealing the local chapter that had regulated mobile vendors (identified in the meeting as ordinance 20 25 dash o 8) and separately approved deletion of the fee schedule (ordinance 20 25 dash o 9).
One speaker summarized the practical effect: "as long as they're in a legal parking area or on private property, they will be allowed to conduct business as a mobile food vendor." Council members voted in favor of repeal and removal of the fee schedule.
Why it matters: The repeal eliminates the city's local permitting and fee requirements for mobile food vendors and defers to the state's regulatory framework. City officials said they may revisit the issue if the change creates problems for local management of vendor locations.
Record: Council moved, seconded and recorded unanimous "Aye" votes on both the repeal of the local ordinance and the deletion of the fee schedule.