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Pontiac council adopts comprehensive mobile food vendor ordinance with licensing and park limits
Summary
The council approved a rewritten ordinance regulating mobile food vendors and pushcarts, creating annual and single-event licenses, listing permitted parks and times, and setting inspection, trash and safety requirements; staff outlined phased enforcement and an appeal process.
The Pontiac City Council on an April meeting approved an ordinance rewriting the city’s rules for mobile food vendors and pushcarts, establishing licensing, location and safety requirements.
City staff presented the ordinance and explained it will require a $200 annual license (with a $25 single-event option), define where vendors may operate and list permitted city parks and hours. Staff said the ordinance allows brick-and-mortar businesses in the B‑2 Central Business District to sponsor a mobile vendor up to six times per year during the sponsor’s regular business hours, and that vendors operating at permitted parks must contact the police department to arrange any restricted parking. “The annual license will be valid for a one‑year calendar year, January to December, and a single event license may also be purchased,” city staff said during the presentation.
Council members asked about enforcement and inspection. The city administrator said police and designated city or fire department staff may conduct random inspections, and that the initial implementation would emphasize education: “I think that first six months or so, we would take an approach of advising them what they need to do rather than hard violations,” staff said.
The ordinance also sets operational rules: vendors may not sell to customers in moving vehicles or while standing in a roadway, may not leave vehicles unattended, may not use extension cords or city utilities, must provide trash receptacles and must comply with county and state health codes. Fees are nonrefundable if an application is denied, and the mayor may suspend or revoke a license for failures including refusing inspection; licensees may appeal a suspension or revocation to the council within 14 days of notice.
Council debated whether the annual fee should cover special events; staff said the $200 season pass would include special events but single-event licenses remain available. After discussion, a councilor made a motion and the ordinance was approved by roll call vote.
The council directed staff to prepare public outreach materials and suggested a grace/education period (staff proposed May for outreach and enforcement beginning in June).
