City of St. Ann, MO Mobile Food Vehicles (Food Trucks)

[R.O. 1998 § 610.280; Ord. No. 2913 §2, 8-5-2014]

As used in this Article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

A motorized vehicle (sometimes referred to as a "food truck") which may temporarily park in an area designated by this Article and engage in the service, sale, or distribution of ready-to-eat food for individual portion service to the general public directly from the vehicle upon issuance of a license by the City Clerk and conformance with the regulations established by this Article.

MOBILE FOOD VEHICLE VENDOR

The registered owner of a mobile food vehicle or the owner's agent or employee and referred to in this Article as "vendor."

Section 610.290 Scope.

[R.O. 1998 § 610.290; Ord. No. 2913 §7, 8-5-2014]

The provisions of this Article apply to mobile food vehicles engaged in the business of cooking, preparing and distributing food or beverage with or without charge upon or in public and private restricted spaces. This Article does not apply to ice cream vendors or sidewalk vendors.

Section 610.300 License Required; Application.

[R.O. 1998 § 610.300; Ord. No. 2913 § 7, 8-5-2014; Ord. No. 3274, 7-5-2022]

It shall be unlawful for any person or entity (including, but not limited to, any religious, charitable or non-profit organization) to operate a mobile food vehicle within the City of St. Ann without having obtained a license for such purpose from the City Clerk.

The license required by this Article shall be issued in accordance with Chapter 605 regarding business licenses, merchants and business occupations. However, an annual business license rebate of fifty dollars ($50.00) shall be available for each mobile food vehicle license issued for business license year 2020, and subsequent years, upon application to the City for said rebate by the licensee.

All mobile food vehicle vendor licenses issued under this Article shall be kept conspicuously posted on the vehicle at all times.

Any person or entity desiring to operate a mobile food vehicle shall make a written application for such license to the City Clerk. The application for a license shall be on forms provided by the City of St. Ann and shall include, in addition to the information prescribed by the City Clerk under Chapter 605, the following:

The name, signature, phone number, e-mail address, home address, and business address of the applicant, and the name and address of the owner if the applicant is not the owner of the business.

Three (3) prints of a full-face photograph, taken not more than thirty (30) days prior to the date of the application, of any person who will offer or sell any food or beverage under the mobile food vehicle license and special event permit applied for.

A description and photograph of the mobile food vehicle to be used, including the license plate and registration number, the vehicle identification number (VIN), year, make and model of the vehicle, and dimensions, which shall not exceed thirty-six (36) feet in length or nine (9) feet in width.

Copies of all necessary licenses and permits from St. Louis County.

Proof of an insurance policy, in the amount of fifty thousand dollars/one hundred thousand dollars/ten thousand dollars ($50,000.00/$100,000.00/$10,000.00) issued by an insurance company licensed to do business in the State, covering all claims for damages to property and bodily injury, including death, which may arise from operation under or in connection with the license or permit. Such insurance shall name the City as an additional insured and shall provide that the policy shall not terminate or be canceled prior to the expiration date without thirty (30) days' advance written notice to the City.

A license tax is hereby levied upon mobile food vehicle vendors for each separate mobile food vehicle used pursuant to this Article. The fee for the license required and imposed under this Article shall be a minimum sum of one hundred dollars ($100.00). All vendors receiving a license under this Article shall pay said license fee annually.

A separate license shall be obtained for each vehicle used by the mobile food vehicle vendor.

A license issued under this Article shall be valid for a period of one (1) year, unless suspended or revoked for cause, and shall not be assignable or transferable.

Prior to the issuance of a license, the City shall conduct an inspection of the proposed mobile food vehicle.

Any application for a mobile food vehicle license may be denied, and any mobile food vehicle license may be suspended or revoked for any of the following causes:

Fraud or misrepresentation contained in the license application.

Fraud or misrepresentation made in the course of operating the business.

Conduct that creates a public nuisance, or otherwise constitutes a danger to the public health, safety, welfare or morals.

Conduct which is contrary to the provisions of this Article and Chapter 605.

Failure to comply with the provisions of this Article or any other applicable rules or regulations promulgated by the City of St. Ann.

Section 610.310 Regulations.

[R.O. 1998 § 610.310; Ord. No. 2913 §7, 8-5-2014]

No operator of a mobile food vehicle shall park, stand or move a vehicle and conduct business within areas of the City of St. Ann where the license holder has not been authorized to operate. All mobile food vehicles shall operate in conjunction with a special event permit that shall be reviewed and approved by the Board of Aldermen.

All mobile food vehicles shall comply with the following requirements:

All equipment installed in any part of the vehicle shall be secured in order to prevent movement during transit and to prevent detachment in the event of a collision or overturn.

All utensils shall be stored to prevent being hurled about in the event of a sudden stop, collision or overturn. A safety knife holder shall be provided to avoid loose storage of knives.

Compressors, auxiliary engines, generators, batteries, battery chargers, gas-fueled water heaters and similar equipment shall be installed so as to be accessible only from outside the vehicle.

The customer service area for mobile food vehicles shall be on the side of the truck that faces a curb, lawn or sidewalk when parked. No food service shall be provided on the driving lane side of the truck. No food shall be prepared, sold or displayed outside of a mobile food vehicle.

No mobile food vehicle vendor shall provide or allow any dining area within ten (10) feet of the mobile food vehicle, including but not limited to table and chairs, booths, stools, benches, or stand-up counters.

Mobile food vehicle vendors shall, at all times, possess a valid St. Louis County peddler, solicitor, and street vendor license and a valid Health Department permit.

All mobile food vehicle vendors shall provide a waste container for public use which the vendor shall empty at its own expense. All trash and garbage originating from the operation of mobile food vehicles shall be collected and disposed of off-site by the operators at least each day and as often as is reasonable to protect the public health, safety, and welfare. Spills of food or food by-products shall be cleaned up, and no dumping of gray water within the City shall be permitted.

No mobile food vehicle shall make or cause to be made any public nuisance.

No mobile food vehicle shall sound or permit the sounding of any device which produces a loud and raucous noise or use or operate any loudspeaker, public address system, radio, sound amplifier or similar device to attract the attention of the public.

Signage is only allowed when placed on mobile food vehicles. No separate freestanding signs are permitted.

No flashing or blinking lights, or strobe lights are allowed on mobile food vehicles or related signage when the vehicle is parked and engaged in serving customers.

Mobile food vehicles shall be parked in conformance with all applicable parking restrictions when parked on public streets.

Mobile food vehicles shall not, under any circumstances, stop, stand or park a vehicle upon any street during the hours when parking, stopping or standing has been prohibited by signs or curb markings or is prohibited by statute or ordinance.

Mobile food vehicles shall not in any way restrict or interfere with the ingress or egress of the abutting property owner or tenant or otherwise hinder the lawful parking or operation of other vehicles.

Mobile food vehicles shall not increase traffic congestion or delay, or constitute a hazard to traffic, life or property, or an obstruction to adequate access to fire, police or sanitation vehicles.

Mobile food vehicles shall not stop, stand or park upon any street, or permit the vehicle to remain in the roadway except when at the curb for the purpose of vending therefrom.

A vendor shall not operate a mobile food vehicle within five hundred (500) feet of any fair, festival, special event or civic event that has been approved by the City of St. Ann unless the vendor has been approved as a part of the event and issued a special event permit authorizing him or her to operate.

A vendor shall not operate on private property without first obtaining written consent from the affected property owner. A private property owner shall not permit parking by a mobile food vehicle until a mobile food vehicle license and a special event permit has been granted by the City.

Any power or fuel required for the mobile food vehicle shall be self-contained, and a mobile food vehicle shall not use utilities drawn from the public right-of-way. Mobile food vehicles on private property may use electrical power from the property being occupied or an adjacent property, but only when the property owner provides written consent to do so. All power sources must be self-contained. No power cable or equipment shall be extended at or across any City street, alley or sidewalk.

Mobile food vehicles shall not operate within:

Fifteen (15) feet of any entranceway to any building;

Fifteen (15) feet of any driveway entrance to a police or fire station;

Fifteen (15) feet of any other driveway;

One hundred (100 feet of a crosswalk or intersection;

Fifty (50) feet of any bus stop sign.

Two hundred fifty (250) feet of an existing restaurant building during the hours when such restaurant is open for business.

The issuance of a mobile food vehicle license does not grant or entitle the vendor to the exclusive use of any street or parking space.

Section 610.320 Enforcement.

[R.O. 1998 § 610.320; Ord. No. 2913 §7, 8-5-2014]

Any person operating a mobile food vehicle in violation of any provision of this Article shall be subject to all other enforcement provisions of this Article.

Any license issued under this Article may be revoked, suspended or not renewed by the City Clerk for failure to comply with the provisions of this Article and any rules or regulations promulgated by the City of St. Ann.