Garden City council amends mobile food vending rules, adds generator noise limit and 100-foot spacing from restaurants

Garden City — The City Council voted unanimously Monday to amend the municipal mobile food vending ordinance, removing a 200-foot linear buffer, expanding permitted site frequency, and adding new operational requirements including a generator noise limit.

The council approved amendments to Chapter 111 (sections 111.082–111.086) in Ordinance 25-008, and separately amended the city fee schedule to add a $300 annual mobile-food-vendor permit and a $75 fire-inspection fee. The ordinance change and fee schedule amendment passed on separate motions, each by a 6-0 vote.

The changes were presented by Mr. Smith, who described the key elements as “the elimination of the 200 foot linear buffer between properties that would be permitted for food trucks,” raising the allowable site frequency for a business-hosted food truck from six to 12 days a year, and converting a daily permit fee into an annual license. Smith said the annual license “just basically gets them access to do business in Garden City” while site-specific setup dates will still be registered with the clerk’s office so staff can vet safety and parking impacts.

Council members debated noise, proximity to brick-and-mortar restaurants, and enforceability. Councilmember Witt moved approval of the ordinance language as presented; after discussion the council amended the motion to add two provisions: (1) a limit that “all generators or auxiliary power units used in connection with a licensed mobile food vending unit shall be operated and maintained at a level that does not exceed 60 decibels as measured at or beyond the nearest residential property line,” and (2) a 100-foot limit measured from the food truck to a brick-and-mortar restaurant front door. The amended ordinance item was adopted 6-0.

Council members said the 12-site-frequency limit applies to each property owner or host site (a host may allow a truck up to 12 days a year). The council clarified that community events organized or permitted by the city (for example, Music in the Park) will not count against a vendor’s 12 visits. The ordinance requires vendors to display their license on the truck and requires permission from the property owner for use of private lots.

On fees, the council approved an amendment to the city’s comprehensive fee schedule to add a $300 annual permit fee and a required $75 fire inspection for licensed mobile food vendors. Mr. Smith said the $300 figure corresponds to $25 per day multiplied by 12 (the new site-frequency limit). The fire inspection will be scheduled by the fire department after the clerk’s office approves the vendor’s application.

The ordinance also adds food-safety and sanitation language including a requirement for grease interception and a prohibition against disposing grease into the sewer system. Councilmembers noted the ordinance clarifies that transient or makeshift tent/grill operations that are not self-contained mobile food units are not covered by this vending license and would not be permitted as food trucks under the new rules.

Council members discussed enforcement options for noise complaints and agreed a numeric decibel cap (60 dB at the nearest residential property line) gives staff and enforcement officers a measurable standard while relying in practice on complaint-driven enforcement and existing nuisance provisions when needed.

The ordinance will become part of the Garden City Code as amended; the council did not set a separate effective date in the meeting minutes provided.