Grand Terrace Municipal Code Ch. 12.60 Mobile Food Trucks

The purpose of this Chapter is to:

A. Protect the health, welfare, and safety of residents and all people within the City's boundaries by regulating the time, place, and manner of mobile food truck operations within the City of Grand Terrace.

B. Protect public safety and traffic flow when mobile food trucks are operating in public rights-of-way.

C. Mitigate safety, traffic, and health hazards associated with mobile food trucks, including, but not limited to:

1. Encouraging pedestrians to cross mid-block to purchase food;

2. Contributing to vehicular traffic congestion;

3. Reducing available parking; and

4. Posing risks to motorists navigating the public right-of-way.

(Ord. No. 370, § 2, 7-22-2025)

For the purposes of this Chapter:

A. "Commercial zone" means areas designated for commercial land uses under a specific plan or zoning code.

B. "Food" or "food products" means any type of edible substance or beverage.

C. "Mobile food truck" means any self-propelled, motorized device or vehicle by which any person or property may be propelled or moved upon a highway, excepting a device moved exclusively by human power, or which may be drawn or towed by a self-propelled, motorized vehicle, which is used, designed or outfitted to dispense ready-to-eat food or food products to patrons or from which food or food products are sold, offered for sale, displayed, bartered, exchanged or otherwise given. "Mobile food truck" does not include:

1. Vehicles used solely to deliver food or food products previously requested by a patron, home or business establishment, such as "Meals-on-Wheels" or delivery trucks.

2. Vehicles used for the display, sale or dispersal of food or food products as part of an organized community event for which permission has been granted by the City.

D. "Mobile food service location" means the free clear vending area located on a lot, but not including any structures, landscaping and other developed features; or a location in a public right-of-way, free of obstructions, where mobile food trucks operate.

E. "Mobile food vendor" means a person that operates or assists in the operation of a mobile food truck.

F. "Vend" or "vending" means to sell, offer for sale, display, barter, exchange, or otherwise give food or food products from a mobile food truck.

G. "Vendor" means a person who vends, including an employee or agent of a vendor.

(Ord. No. 370, § 2, 7-22-2025)

A. Subject to the requirements provided in this chapter, mobile food trucks with an approved Mobile Food Truck Temporary Use Permit are allowed in the public right-of-way in commercial zones and directly adjacent to commercial zones that allow restaurant uses.

B. A mobile food truck may not park its vehicle in the public right-of-way unless the vendor adheres to the following standards and conditions:

1. Mobile food trucks must adhere to all local traffic laws and posted road signs;

2. Mobile food trucks shall be in full compliance with all parking and Vehicle Code provisions which apply to the location at which it is parked;

3. Mobile food trucks operating within a public right-of-way must be located on a street within or adjacent to a commercial zone, where the street is sufficiently wide to accommodate normal traffic flow, vendor operations, and available resources for parking and public safety;

4. Mobile food trucks shall not obstruct pedestrian or vehicular traffic;

5. Mobile food trucks and vendors are prohibited from vending toward or on the exposed street and/or traffic side of the mobile food truck;

6. Mobile food trucks and vendors shall not distribute any item from the mobile food truck in a manner that causes any person to stand in that portion of the street that is between the vehicle and the center of the street; and

7. A vendor shall not encroach onto a public sidewalk with any part of its mobile food truck, or any other equipment or furniture related to the operation of its business.

C. The streets, sidewalks, and parkway areas within a 30-foot perimeter of the mobile food truck shall be kept free of any debris or trash.

D. No shade covers or awnings shall extend more than three feet over the sidewalk with a minimum seven feet vertical clearance.

E. Mobile food trucks shall not operate within 25 feet of any street intersection controlled by any marked or unmarked crosswalk, traffic light, or stop sign.

F. Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to prohibit mobile food trucks from lawfully traveling through the public right-of-way without stopping to get to the ultimate destination.

(Ord. No. 370, § 2, 7-22-2025)

A. Current City of Grand Terrace Business License.

B. Current City of Grand Terrace Temporary Use Permit (TUP).

C. City of Grand Terrace mobile food truck approval sticker/decal posted in a conspicuous location on the mobile food truck.

D. Vending sites must be large enough to accommodate the mobile food truck without causing undue strain on surrounding properties. The site should have adequate access to streets and highways with sufficient width and improvements to accommodate the traffic generated by the mobile food truck land use.

E. Adequate temporary parking should be available either on-site or at alternate locations acceptable to the Planning Director or their designee.

F. Mobile food truck signage.

1. A maximum of three double sided a-frame signs no larger than 36 inches tall by 24 inches wide that are made of corrugated plastic are allowed under a Mobile Food Truck Temporary Use Permit.

2. All additional signage shall be integral to the paint scheme and/or wrapping of the mobile food truck.

G. Mobile food tuck mounted outdoor lighting shall be shielded or downward facing.

H. Mobile food trucks shall be located at least 15 feet from any fire hydrant, utility box or vault, public right-of-way, emergency vehicle route, internal drive aisle, tree canopy or pedestrian pathway.

I. A mobile food truck shall possess and at all times display in a clear view a certified copy of its current environmental health decal, grade card issued by the department of environmental health, business license, and approved Mobile Food Truck Temporary Use Permit.

J. Waste disposal.

1. Trash receptacles.

a. At least one recycle and one refuse receptacle shall be provided within a 20-foot radius of the mobile food truck for use by customers.

b. Prior to leaving the location, the vendor shall pick up, remove and dispose of all trash generated by the vendor's operation located within a 25-foot radius of the mobile food truck's location.

c. Unless the property owner has provided for a permitted dumpster, all trash receptacles shall be removed once the mobile food truck operation has ceased each day.

2. Wastewater generated on-site shall not be released on-site or into the storm drainage system.

K. In accordance with Section 114315 of the California Retail Food Code, mobile food trucks stopped to conduct business for more than one hour, shall operate within 200 feet of an approved, readily available and functioning restroom facility. If the restroom is within a business, the mobile food truck operator must submit with the Temporary Use Permit application, written permission from the business owner providing the hours the restroom facilities are being made available for use. Executive portable toilet facilities with handwashing stations may satisfy this requirement.

L. Federal, State, and local laws and regulations. Mobile food trucks shall comply with all other applicable Federal, State and local laws and regulations.

M. A vendor must ensure that all sales tax revenue is properly reported and allocated to the City.

N. A vendor must have a valid Public Health Operating Permit, Operators Food Handler's Certificate, Food Vehicle Certificate Sticker, and Seller's Permit.

O. All food or food products sold or provided from the mobile food truck shall comply with all applicable food labeling requirements established by the State of California.

P. A vendor may operate only between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. within a public right-of-way.

Q. Mobile food trucks shall be stored, cleaned, serviced, and emptied of waste and water daily at a commissary/commercial kitchen facility.

(Ord. No. 370, § 2, 7-22-2025)

A. Mobile food trucks shall not utilize amplified sound.

B. Mobile food trucks shall not operate within a 25-foot radius of another mobile food truck.

C. Mobile food trucks shall not engage in the sale or soliciting the sale of any alcoholic beverages or controlled substances.

D. Mobile food trucks shall not obstruct any street, public right-of-way, driveway, public sidewalk, or restrict emergency vehicle access.

E. Mobile food trucks are prohibited from restocking on any street or public right-of-way.

F. Mobile food trucks shall not deploy tables, chairs, freestanding canopies, umbrellas or similar items.

G. Mobile food trucks shall not connect to electrical power from public or private property.

H. Mobile food trucks shall not operate in a manner that creates and obstruction or hazard to the public.

I. Mobile food trucks shall not operate within 50 feet of a marked or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.

J. Mobile food trucks shall not operate within 250 feet of a school, park, community center, senior center, library or playground.

K. Mobile food truck shall not dispose of oil, grease, or waste on the public right-of-way or parcel that it operates upon.

L. Air flyers and sign twirlers are prohibited.

(Ord. No. 370, § 2, 7-22-2025)

A Ministerial Temporary Use Permit (TUP) processed and approved by the Planning Director, or their designee shall be required for any mobile food truck to operate in the City of Grand Terrace.

A. The mobile food truck operator shall pay the most current TUP application filing fee as established by City Council fee resolution and submit an application for a TUP to the Planning Director or their designee containing the following:

1. Applicant shall provide a written business description describing their business idea, the industry of their business, the present outlook and future possibilities, and other markets and industries that can directly impact their mobile food truck business.

2. Applicant shall provide a vicinity map and a site plan depicting the location(s) that the mobile food truck business will operate from.

3. Applicant shall include their tax identification number on their application.

4. Applicant shall identify what registered non-P.O. box business address they are using for the mobile food truck.

5. Applicant shall provide a market plan and analysis analyzing the market in their industry; identifying their target market, and competitors; and describing their marketing strategy.

6. Applicant shall provide a management and organization chart charting the key responsibilities of all employees, including the applicant.

7. Applicant shall provide a menu and/or product description describing their product and service process, cost of production and selling price.

8. Applicant shall provide proof that a health permit has been issued for the mobile food truck by the San Bernardino Public Health Department and a copy has been submitted to the Planning Director or their designee.

9. Applicant shall provide proof that all the equipment in a mobile food truck is certified by the American National Standards Institute.

10. Applicant shall provide information on what licensed commercial kitchen they own or are renting for the mobile food truck to operate in partnership with.

11. Applicant shall provide information that they have secured a parking space for the mobile food truck which under California law must be parked at a designated food facility when not in use.

12. Applicant shall provide proof that an inspection of the mobile food truck has been completed by the San Bernardino County Fire and a copy has been submitted to the Planning Director or their designee.

13. Applicant shall provide proof of Food Safety Certification the owner or at least one employee of the mobile food truck has passed the state-approved Food Safety Certification exam.

B. All mobile food truck employees involved in the preparation, storage, or service of food must obtain a Food Handler Card.

C. A Fictitious Business Name or Doing Business As (DBA) statement is required from San Bernardino County when: the mobile food truck business name does not include the surname of the individual owner(s) and each of the partners; the mobile food truck business name suggests the existence of additional owners; or the nature of the mobile food truck business is not evident by the name of the business.

D. Mobile food trucks that sell tangible goods (e.g., food and food products) must provide proof they obtained a Seller's Permit from the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration in order to charge sales tax on their goods.

E. A Certificate of General Liability Insurance with the City shall be provided to the Planning Director or their designee prior to final approval of the TUP.

The following requirements are applicable to mobile food trucks operating on private property only.

F. Written consent from the lot owner allowing the mobile food truck to operate on the lot shall be provided to the Planning Director or their designee.

G. There must be no pending Code Enforcement action on the lot.

(Ord. No. 370, § 2, 7-22-2025)

The Planning Director or their designee shall ministerially approve a Temporary Use Permit (TUP) for a mobile food truck only if all the following findings are met:

A. The mobile food truck is compliant with all applicable health and safety inspections, approvals, permits and certifications.

B. The mobile food truck owner and/or their employees are certified and trained to meet all legal and permitting requirements to store, prepare, and serve food.

C. The mobile food truck will not result in an obstruction of the street public right-of-way or sidewalk.

D. The mobile food truck has obtained all necessary clearances and approval to operate at a property with adequate parking and circulation, making it compatible with the surrounding area.

E. The mobile food truck will not be detrimental to the public health, safety, or general welfare of the City of Grand Terrace.

F. The mobile food truck will not pose a threat to the public peace, safety, or general welfare, or be injurious to surrounding properties in the City of Grand Terrace.

G. The mobile food truck complies with the requirements set forth in this Chapter 12.60.

(Ord. No. 370, § 2, 7-22-2025)

The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) does not apply to Ministerial Temporary Use Permits for mobile food trucks, provided the permits are granted based solely on objective standards established in Chapter 12.60.

(Ord. No. 370, § 2, 7-22-2025)

This Chapter does not apply to any of the following:

A. Mobile food trucks operating in conjunction with an active construction site.

B. Mobile food trucks operating on the property of a legally existing school, college, university, hospital, city hall, or places of religious worship.

C. Mobile food trucks operating in conjunction with and on the same site as events consistent with a legally permitted land use, community event, or temporary event.

(Ord. No. 370, § 2, 7-22-2025)