City attorney: Troy's mobile food-vending ordinance does not allow overnight permanent placement

A Troy food-truck operator asked the council for a variance July 28 to leave his truck on-site overnight at a local arcade; the city attorney said the existing mobile food-vending ordinance does not permit that.

Abdullah Al Masiri told council he had purchased a truck for about $110,000 and believed it could remain at the arcade overnight as it had under prior ownership. He said the truck has passed health and fire inspections and carries liability insurance listing the city as a certificate holder.

City Attorney Bloom responded that Troy's mobile food-vending ordinance (Chapter 49) does not provide a variance process for permanent on-site placement. Bloom said the ordinance was designed so food trucks could serve events or temporary locations but not act as a permanent competitor to brick-and-mortar restaurants. He said council could amend ordinances in the future but that administration would not recommend case-by-case changes.

Council members noted the ordinance was drafted using language from other Michigan cities and that the city considered mobile operation key to the policy. Several council members offered to speak further with the owner after the meeting about offline options and next steps.

No ordinance amendment or variance was approved at the meeting.