The Planning and Zoning Commission approved revision of City Code Section 25‑292(18) governing mobile food vendors on May 22, 2025, adopting changes to comply with recent state preemptions and clarifying the city’s process for mobile vending while removing local permitting fees.

Planning staff explained that the state has preempted licenses, registrations and fees for mobile food vendors, so the city’s update removes a local permitting requirement and replaces it with a set of three permission pathways: (1) a letter of location compliance issued by planning and zoning (one mobile vendor per property operating year‑round if the mobile vendor follows the host business’s hours); (2) a temporary use permit from planning and zoning (allowing up to three vendors on a property for up to two consecutive days, once per year); and (3) special events permitted through the Recreation Department. “Since the state legislature has preempted licenses, registrations, permits, and fees, local governments may not require additional fees, permits, or additional licenses and registrations prior to allowing mobile food vending activities,” staff said during the presentation.

Staff will still require proof of state‑mandated licenses, registrations, permits and insurance prior to vending, and the Leesburg Fire Department will continue to inspect food trucks for fire‑safety equipment. Planning staff also noted the city will continue to regulate time, manner and location while complying with state definitions for hot‑dog carts and mobile food trucks.

Commissioners and staff discussed whether large properties — for example, a regional mall or a large plaza — should be allowed more than one permanent food truck. Staff said the current draft limits permanent location compliance to one vendor per property but that the temporary‑use pathway or special event permits could address multi‑vendor situations; staff and commissioners agreed to revisit the ordinance after it has been in effect. The planning commission added an explicit direction that staff return with a report in one year to evaluate how the ordinance is working and whether additional allowances (for large parcels or other conditions) should be added.

The motion to approve the ordinance revision included that staff return in one year with findings on enforcement, permit counts and potential adjustments for larger parcels. The commission approved the motion and second with a recorded roll call. Staff will implement the ordinance change and prepare the one‑year review for the commission’s agenda.