Paso Robles council introduces tighter food‑truck rules, requiring temporary permits for most vending

The Paso Robles City Council on May 5 introduced a zoning code amendment to require temporary use permits for food trucks that vend to the public, with limited exemptions for caterers and city events.

Planning staff presented the ordinance at the public hearing, saying the change removes a confusing seven‑day threshold and clarifies operational requirements including a 9‑foot setback from public right‑of‑way, limits on accessory structures, and coordination among county health, fire and city business licensing. “For food trucks, all food trucks, regardless of the duration, are required to have a temporary use permit and conform by the requirements,” staff said in the presentation.

The amendment also aligns city definitions with San Luis Obispo County environmental health rules, sets the food‑truck temporary use permit fee to match the city’s temporary use permit rate (about $214), and adds food trucks and food‑truck courts to the Uptown Town Center specific plan’s land‑use matrix.

Councilmembers praised the long ad‑hoc process and the outreach to operators. One councilmember said the changes should make enforcement easier by removing the prior threshold and giving staff clear guidance when a vendor is operating without a permit. Piper Smith, the planner who presented the item, said the code change will streamline permitting and enforcement and allow staff to “approach the truck, and inquire, do you have a temporary use permit, business license, health department requirements, and send them in our direction.”

Councilmember Tim Gregory moved to introduce the ordinance by title; Councilmember Bausch seconded the motion. The introduction passed unanimously. The ordinance was taken up as a first reading; additional refinements could be requested when the ordinance returns for further action.