Committee advances ordinance to expand food-truck zones, reduce distance restriction

The St. Louis Board of Aldermen’s Special Committee on Reducing Red Tape voted 5-3 on Jan. 29, 2025, to advance Board Bill 14 — an ordinance sponsored by Alderman Rasheen Aldridge intended to streamline food-truck operations and expand where mobile vendors may operate in the city.

Board Bill 14 would amend Chapter 8 of the St. Louis Revised Code to create citywide vending districts adjacent to commercial and industrial zoning districts, establish a mobile food court along Market Street, and change operational rules for vending in city parks. The committee also accepted two amendments that clarify streets adjacent to zoning districts and give the Parks Department discretion to designate which parks, days and time slots will allow mobile vending.

Alderman Rasheen Aldridge, the bill’s sponsor, described the measure as the product of a year of meetings with stakeholders: “Board Bill 14 has been a long and coming piece of legislation. We started back in April of last year.” He said the bill’s goal is to reduce “red tape” that prevents food-truck operators from finding legal places to vend and to create a common portal and updated vending maps so vendors and the public know where vending is allowed.

Key changes in the adopted committee substitute and amendments include: - Zoning and districts: The bill replaces many narrow named districts with citywide vending districts adjacent to commercial and industrial zoning (districts F–L), while preserving the existing WIF district that covers the riverfront near the Arch and courthouse. - Distance requirement: The ordinance reduces the buffer between a food truck and a brick-and-mortar restaurant from 300 feet to 100 feet. Aldridge reiterated that food trucks still may not vend directly outside a restaurant unless they obtain written consent from the brick-and-mortar operator. - Market Street mobile food court: The ordinance creates a mobile food-court zone roughly along 1200–1320 Market Street. - Parks: The bill authorizes vending in designated city parks but, under amendment, gives the Parks Department authority to designate which parks allow mobile vendors, what days and hours are permitted, and to publish that information on the city website. The Parks Department is to create an online reservation portal for park vending slots. - Administration and enforcement: The Streets Department will maintain an annually updated map of vending zones and host a portal for vendor sign-ups as well as a comments/complaints mechanism for residents. Aldridge and department staff said the ordinance does not change which agencies issue business, health or fire permits; licensing processes remain with existing departments (business license collector, health, fire, streets).

Supporters at the public hearing — including business and vendor representatives — argued the changes would spur economic activity and help vendors incubate into brick-and-mortar businesses. Buzz Moore, who identified himself as a long-time food-truck owner and St. Louis Food Truck Association secretary, said the city is “behind the times” compared with peer cities and that food trucks add vibrancy and foot traffic downtown. Brian Scott, president of the St. Louis Food Truck Association, urged passage, saying the bill is “the next step” for vendors who currently have few legal places to operate.

Opponents and several committee members urged caution and more detail. Alderman (or Alderwoman) Taiz (identified in testimony as the sponsor of earlier ordinances) said portions of the city code being changed include previously negotiated rules and warned that unrestricted vending once created enforcement and public-order problems; she said she would seek amendments to exclude parts of her ward. James Page, executive director of the St. Louis Downtown Neighborhood Association, and several neighborhood groups asked for clearer enforcement language, a finalized vending map, and more outreach to smaller commercial districts beyond downtown and the Central West End.

Multiple witnesses and aldermen emphasized enforcement and clarity are unresolved: public speakers and committee members repeatedly requested a published list of parks that would allow vending, clear complaint-handling timelines, and assurances that the Streets and Parks departments have capacity to manage portals and enforcement work. Aldridge said he would continue negotiating with colleagues and was open to including an effective date in the ordinance to allow more time to implement administrative procedures.

The committee adopted the committee substitute and both amendments earlier in the meeting and then voted on a motion to give Board Bill 14 a due-pass recommendation to the full board. Roll-call voting on the final committee recommendation was: Alderman Narayan — aye; Alderwoman Clark Hubbard — aye; Alderwoman Sonya — aye; Chair (Velasquez) — aye; President Green — aye; Alderman Spencer — no; Vice Chair Odenberg — no; Alderwoman Keyes — no. The committee chair recorded a 5–3 vote to advance the bill.

The bill’s next steps are second reading before the full Board of Aldermen; Aldridge said he expects continued amendments and outreach before the measure is finalized.