Council begins rewrite of food‑truck rules after fire code, health code and permit conflicts

The City Council discussed Odessa’s food‑truck ordinance and permitting process during its Jan. 28 meeting, with the fire marshal describing how recent adoption of the International Fire Code (2021) and a separate fee schedule have shaped inspection requirements and with vendors and council members pressing for a streamlined process.

The fire marshal (unnamed) said the city adopted the International Fire Code 2021 in 2022 and at the same time established a fee schedule for the fire marshal’s office. He told council the newer code includes requirements for mobile food vendors that did not exist in the older 2012 code, notably hood suppression systems for cooking appliances, and that the change prompted the city to coordinate inspections across multiple departments. “At that same time, the city of Odessa adopted a fee schedule for the fire marshal's office,” the fire marshal said.

Under the current city ordinance, staff said, the…