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Council adopts streamlined mobile‑food‑vendor permit, lowers upfront cost
Summary
Lynnwood approved Ordinance 3508 on May 11, establishing site‑specific and non‑site‑specific mobile‑food vendor permits, consolidating fire and vendor approvals, and adopting fee option C (initial $100, $50 annual reinspection). The ordinance passed 6–0 by roll call.
Lynnwood — The Lynnwood City Council voted 6–0 on May 11 to adopt Ordinance 3508, a rewrite of the city’s mobile‑food‑vendor code that creates a single, streamlined permitting path and reduces duplicative fees.
The code change replaces the prior mobile‑food licensing approach with two permit types: a site‑specific permit for vendors operating on the same private property for more than 90 days in a year, and a nonspecific permit for vendors that operate on permitted parcels for fewer than 90 days. Planning staff told the council the permit will function as the fire operational permit to avoid duplicate fees and inspections.
Why it matters: Council and staff said the change lowers barriers for food vendors, creates clearer rules and makes the City’s permitting process compatible with state health and labor requirements. Staff emphasized the ordinance is designed to be accessible: the draft before council used fee option C (a $100 initial permit and a $50 annual reinspection fee) instead of the previous combined fee that could top several hundred dollars.
Key features: The ordinance requires Snohomish County Health Department approval (including a commissary/grease‑disposal arrangement where required), a Washington labor‑and‑industries number and a Lynnwood business license (applicants can apply concurrently). For site‑specific permits the applicant must provide a site plan and a property‑owner authorization for restroom access; for nonspecific permits staff removed that requirement to simplify temporary operations.
Council discussion focused on how the code treats right‑of‑way operations versus private sites, how the City will accept fire inspections from other jurisdictions for fee reductions, and whether the restroom requirement duplicates health‑department rules. Staff said the city will start with private sites and revisit right‑of‑way permissions later.
Vote and next steps: Councilor Imada moved adoption of Ordinance 3508; the ordinance was seconded and passed on a roll‑call vote (six yes, zero no). Staff said they will return to council after implementation with any recommended refinements.
Rules and citation: The ordinance amends Lynnwood Municipal Code chapters on fees and use regulations and provides for severability and summary publication; the ordinance number on the record is 3508.
