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Trousdale County considers separate long-term permits for food trucks, trims BZA burden for temporary uses
Summary
Commissioners and Codes & Zoning members said recent code consolidation removed some temporary-use requirements that had forced vendors to seek BZA approval; the county is weighing an annual vendor permit (modeled on Lebanon’s $100 form) while preserving short-term temporary-use permits for one-off events.
Chair opened the Codes & Zoning update, and David, speaking for that committee, said the recent consolidation of urban and rural codes revealed several unintended consequences for temporary uses and vendor regulation. He said the committee amended the temporary-use language so certain uses no longer require Board of Zoning Appeals approval, and that change reduced a fee burden in at least one case by roughly $250.
"When you read it, you get to see some things that we've now noticed ... temporary use permits — I made that amendment," David said, noting the committee approved the change to keep some temporary uses out of BZA review. He told commissioners the committee intends to treat food trucks as a distinct licensing category separate from short-term temporary events.
Commissioners and staff described a large public turnout of food-truck operators at the Codes & Zoning meeting. Helene supplied sample language used in Lebanon for a vendor permit — a roughly $100 annual filing that keeps required health and fire documentation on file and reduces repetitive inspections. "She brought in the outline for it," a commissioner said. The example prompted discussion of fee waivers for county- or chamber-sanctioned events such as holiday parades or downtown festivals.
The committee is also clarifying whether multi-day operators (food trucks that return frequently) should be eligible for long-term permits while true one-off events remain covered under 30-day temporary-use permits. Members said the goal is to balance public safety — ensuring health and fire inspections — without imposing restaurant-level fire-suppression requirements on mobile vendors.
Next steps: Codes & Zoning will refine separate language for long-term vendor permits and temporary-use language for single events, then bring the revised ordinance language back to the commission for consideration. The committee also plans to incorporate stakeholder feedback from the operator meeting into the drafting process.
Ending: Commissioners agreed the topic needs continued attention and that updated draft language should return to the full commission for a formal vote once the committee finalizes the proposed permit structure and fee schedule.
