Brentwood council approves overhaul of mobile vending rules, adds temporary-use process

Brentwood City Council on Jan. 14 introduced and waived first reading of two ordinances that revise the city’s mobile vending regulations and create a temporary use permit (TUP) route for long‑term mobile vending facilities.

The measures, presented by Senior Planner Jennifer Hagen and Senior Code Enforcement Officer Linda Shale, update Chapter 5.68 (mobile vending) and add provisions to Chapter 17.85 (temporary use permits) to cover long‑term commissaries and vending facilities that cannot meet the new 5.68 requirements.

The ordinances set new application and operating rules. Under the draft mobile vending chapter, applicants convicted of specified crimes in the past five years or registered sex offenders would be barred from obtaining a permit. The draft also prohibits vending in the downtown core exhibit and places distance and time limits on vending in the public right of way — including a prohibition on vending within 300 feet of a single‑family residential zone outside prescribed midday hours and a 100‑foot setback from similar businesses unless the business gives written permission. Private property vending would be limited to one mobile vendor per property, and vending there must be ancillary to the property’s primary use.

Jennifer Hagen, senior planner, said staff proposes a March 1 effective date and that outreach to businesses and stakeholders has been conducted leading to the current text. The TUP changes in Chapter 17.85 would require an initial major TUP for long‑term facilities, allow subsequent minor TUP renewals, and impose additional setbacks, parking, seating, utility and accessibility requirements. Commissaries would be required to be owner‑operated and would face limits on the number of facilities per site.

Council members discussed special events, alcohol vending and whether private‑property gatherings during COVID‑era neighborhood food‑truck visits would be permitted under the new rules. Linda Shale said special events on private property can seek a one‑day TUP and that Parks & Recreation handles events on public property. She also clarified the draft applies to any county‑licensed mobile vendor, not just food and beverage vendors.

No members of the public spoke on the ordinances at the public hearing. The council voted to introduce and waive first reading of both ordinances; staff will return for a second reading at the next meeting.

Why it matters: The changes create a clearer, locally enforceable framework for mobile vendors and add a permit path when vendors cannot meet base requirements, balancing downtown business concerns, neighborhood setbacks and vendor access to the market.

What's next: Council members expect to consider the ordinances for final adoption at the next council meeting and monitor implementation and complaints through the code enforcement and planning divisions.