Shafter Municipal Code Ch. 5.56 Food Vending Vehicles

Footnotes:

--- (4) ---

Editor's note— Ord. No. 733, § 2(Exh. A, adopted April 5, 2022, repealed amended and restated former Ch. 5.56, §§ 5.56.010—5.56.210, 5.56.230—5.56.260, in its entirety which pertained to similar subject matter and derived from Ord. No. 594, § 1, 2007; Ord. No. 611, §§ 1—3, 2007; Ord. No. 668, § 1, 4-21-2015; Ord. No. 710, § 2, 2-5-2019.

The city council expressly finds that vehicles in which goods or merchandise are carried for purposes of retail sale on the public and private streets, and vehicles from which hot and/or cold food prepared in the vehicle and/or prepackaged are sold or offered for sale, pose traffic hazards and special dangers to the public health, safety and welfare of children and residents in the city. It is the purpose and intent of the city council, in enacting this chapter, to provide responsible companies and persons who engage in the operation of food vending from vehicles with clear and concise regulations to prevent safety, traffic and health hazards, as well as to preserve the peace, safety and welfare of the community.

(Ord. No. 773, § 2(Exh. A), 4-5-22)

It is unlawful for any person to sell or offer for sale, or operate any vehicle or conduct any business for the purpose of causing the sale of or offering for sale, any goods or merchandise from any vehicle parked, stopped or standing upon any public street, alley, parkway, sidewalk or other public property in the city except in accordance with all applicable requirements of this code and in compliance with all of the provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 773, § 2(Exh. A), 4-5-22)

The following words and terms as used in this section shall be used to define "food vending vehicles" (and related activities) and shall have the following meanings:

"Director of the planning department" means the planning department director of the city, or his or her designee.

"Goods or merchandise" means and includes items and products of every kind and description, including all food, produce and beverage items.

"Ice cream truck" means a motor vehicle engaged in the vending or sale of frozen or refrigerated desserts, confections, or novelties commonly known as ice cream, or prepackaged candies, prepackaged snack foods, or soft drinks, primarily intended for the sale to children under sixteen years of age. For the purposes of this section and due to safety concerns, no trailer or platform attached to any sort of vehicle via hitch, chains or other similar method may be used as an ice cream or shaved ice vending truck.

"Land use permit" shall include temporary land use permits, special event permits, and/or conditional use permits as provided for in Title 17 (Zoning Ordinance) of the municipal code.

"Mobile vending vehicle" shall include, but not be limited to, any motor vehicle, truck, car, trailer, cart, wagon, conveyance, or structure not permanently fixed to a permanent foundation and which may be moved under its own power, towed by a motor vehicle, wheelchair, motorcycle, bicycle, or other mobile device or carried upon or in a motor vehicle or trailer.

"Operator" means any person or entity owning, operating or otherwise controlling any business involving the vending of goods or merchandise from a vehicle.

"Person" means any natural person, firm, partnership, association, corporation or other entity of any kind or nature.

"Personally identifiable information" means an individual's name, business name, home address, business address, birthdate, telephone number, business location, California's driver's license or identification number, individual taxpayer identification number, municipal identification number, government-issued identification number, consular identification, social media identifiers, employee identification number, business license number, seller's permit number, social security number, vending registration certificate or license number, known place of work, income and tax information, and any other information that would identify the individual.

"Public property" means any real property, or interest therein, owned, leased, operated or otherwise controlled by the city other than a street, alley, parkway or sidewalk.

"Vehicle" as defined in the Vehicle Code of the state of California, and shall not include any human-powered device.

"Vend" or "vending" means the sale or offering for sale of any goods or merchandise to the public from a food vending vehicle as defined herein.

"Vendor" means any person who engages in the act of vending from a vehicle or who drives or otherwise operates any such vehicle for the purpose of vending therefrom.

(Ord. No. 773, § 2(Exh. A), 4-5-22; Ord. No. 778, § 2(Exh. A), 3-17-2026)

A. No person shall own, control, manage, lease, drive, operate, vend and/or prepare food from or on any vehicle defined as a food vending vehicle or contract with other persons for the operation of a food vending vehicle in the city without a valid business license/vendor's permit/operators permit issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter in addition to any other license or permit required under any other chapter of this code for each and every food vending vehicle.

(Ord. No. 773, § 2(Exh. A), 4-5-22)

The term of vendor and operator permits, unless sooner suspended or revoked, shall be for a period of one year. Upon the expiration of such term, the permittee may renew the permit for additional one year terms by submitting new applications in conformance with this chapter, together with such permit renewal fees as may be established by resolution of the city council.

(Ord. No. 773, § 2(Exh. A), 4-5-22)

A. Any person desiring to obtain a vendor and/or an operator's permit shall make application to the director of the planning department. Applications for either a vendor or an operator's permit shall be submitted in the form prescribed by the city. Prior to submitting such applications, a nonrefundable fee, as established by resolution of the city council shall be paid to the department of finance to defray, in part, the cost of the investigation and report required by this chapter. The department of finance shall issue a receipt showing that such application fee has been paid. The receipt, a copy thereof, shall be supplied to the director of the planning department at the time such application is filed. Permit issuance fees required under this chapter shall be in addition to any license, permit or fee required under any other chapter of this code. No permit application shall be processed unless and until the applicant has provided all the information requested on the application and has submitted the appropriate fee(s). If an applicant for a vendor permit also requires an operator's permit, then it is not necessary for said applicant to pay a separate fee for the operator's permit application.

B. Neither the filing of any application for a permit, nor the payment of an application fee, shall authorize the vending from or the operation or management of a food vending vehicle until such permit has been granted or renewed by the city of Shafter.

(Ord. No. 773, § 2(Exh. A), 4-5-22; Ord. No. 778, § 2(Exh. A), 3-17-2026)

The director of the planning department shall have a reasonable period of time in which to investigate the application and background of the applicant for a vendor's permit or an operator's permit. The director of the planning department shall, within thirty days after the date of the filing of the application, approve or deny the application for the permit or renewal thereof.

(Ord. No. 773, § 2(Exh. A), 4-5-22; Ord. No. 778, § 2(Exh. A), 3-17-2026)

The director of the planning department shall grant the vendor's permit or operator's permit only if he/she finds that all of the following requirements have been met:

A. The required fees have been paid;

B. The application conforms in all respects to the provisions of this chapter;

C. The applicant has not knowingly made a material misrepresentation of fact in the application; and

D. The applicant has fully cooperated in the investigation of the applicant.

(Ord. No. 773, § 2(Exh. A), 4-5-22; Ord. No. 778, § 2(Exh. A), 3-17-2026)

A. If the director of the planning department finds that any of the requirements set forth in Section 5.56.080 have not been met, he/she shall deny the application for a vendor or operator's permit. In the event the application for either permit is denied by the director of the planning department, or his/her designated representative, written notice of such denial shall be given to the applicant specifying the ground or grounds of such denial. Notice of denial of the application for the permit shall be deemed to have been served if it is in fact is personally served on the applicant or when deposited in the United States mail with postage prepaid and addressed to the applicant at his/her residence as set forth in the application for either permit.

B. Any applicant whose application for a vendor or operator's permit has been denied by the director of the planning department may appeal such denial to the city council.

(Ord. No. 773, § 2(Exh. A), 4-5-22; Ord. No. 778, § 2(Exh. A), 3-17-2026)

A. Any vendor or operator's permit may be suspended or revoked by the director of the planning department for any of the following reasons:

1. Falsehood of any information supplied by the permittee upon which issuance of the permit was based;

2. Failure of the permittee to notify the director of the planning department within two weeks of any change occurring subsequent to the issuance of the permit in the information supplied by the permittee upon which issuance of the permit was based;

3. Failure of the permittee, or of any employees or subcontractors of the permittee, to comply with the regulations set forth in Sections 5.56.110 through 5.56.210 of this chapter; and/or

4. Violation by the permittee, or any employee, subcontractor or independent contractor of the permittee, of any state law or municipal ordinance while in the course of conducting vending operations from a food vending vehicle pursuant to the permit.

B. No such suspension or revocation shall become effective until the permit holder has been notified in writing of the right of such permit holder to appeal the suspension or revocation. Notification to the permit holder shall be made either by personal delivery or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, addressed to the permit holder at such permit holder's residence address as set forth on the application for a permit. If a timely appeal is filed, the suspension or revocation shall be stayed and shall become effective only upon decision of the city council. Otherwise the suspension or revocation shall become effective after the timely appeal period has expired.

C. Permit holder has five working days from the date of receipt of the suspension or revocation notice to file his/her appeal.

D. No person whose permit is revoked shall be eligible to apply for a new permit for a period of one year following such revocation.

(Ord. No. 773, § 2(Exh. A), 4-5-22; Ord. No. 778, § 2(Exh. A), 3-17-2026)

A. Each food vending vehicle shall have a current, valid county of Kern health inspection sticker affixed to the lower right side of the windshield in addition to the permit sticker issued by the city or in a conspicuous location on a pushcart.

B. Each operator shall retain the food vending vehicle permit issued by the city. The operator shall carry the permit at all times while engaged in the operation of and/or the actual vending from a food vending vehicle and shall produce the same for inspection upon request. Each permit holder shall immediately surrender to the director of the planning department any permit issued by the city upon the suspension, revocation or expiration of such permit or upon leaving employment as an operator.

C. In addition to the operator's permit required in subsection A of this section, each person who drives a food vending vehicle shall have on his/her person a current, valid California driver's license, which he/she shall make available for inspection by law enforcement officials upon request.

D. Each food vending vehicle shall adhere to all Department of Motor Vehicle regulations and any relevant CAL OSHA requirements. Each food vending vehicle shall carry and maintain a fire extinguisher, first aid kit and an operating cell phone or other two-way communication for use in event of an emergency.

E. Each operator shall adhere to the requirements of California Vehicle Code regarding the operation and maintenance of a food vending vehicle.

(Ord. No. 773, § 2(Exh. A), 4-5-22; Ord. No. 778, § 2(Exh. A), 3-17-2026)

A. No person shall vend from a food vending vehicle which is stopped, parked or standing on any public street, alley or highway:

1. Within two hundred feet of any intersection;

2. When the posted speed limit on the public street, alley or highway is greater than twenty-five miles per hour;

3. When the food vending vehicle is parked in violation of any other provision of this code or the California Vehicle Code;

4. When any part of the food vending vehicle is open to prospective customers other than on the side of the vehicle next to the right side of the street, alley or highway;

5. When the food vending vehicle is not stopped, parked or standing on the right side of the street, alley or highway;

6. When the prospective customer is standing or sitting in another vehicle;

7. When the prospective customer is located in that portion of the street, alley or highway which is open to vehicular traffic; and

8. Between one-half hour before sundown and seven a.m., except when granted a temporary land use permit or special event permit by the city, or, unless the hours of operation imposed on other businesses or uses on the same street are less restrictive, then the less restrictive hours are imposed.

B. No person shall back up a food vending vehicle to make or attempt to make a sale.

C. No minor under the age of sixteen shall ride in or on a food vending vehicle while such food vending vehicle is engaged, or about to be engaged, in the operation of vending.

D. All food vending vehicles shall be equipped with refuse containers large enough to contain all refuse generated by the operation of such vehicle, and the operator of the food vending vehicle shall pick up all refuse generated by such operation within a fifty-foot radius of the vehicle before such vehicle is moved.

E. No person vending from a food vending vehicle shall sell, trade, barter or otherwise deal any type or sort of toys, fireworks of any kind, or any sort of alcoholic beverage.

F. No person vending from a food vending vehicle shall set up or cause to be set up any table, chairs or any other seating for use by customers of the food vending vehicle.

G. For the purposes of this section and due to safety concerns, no trailer or platform attached to any sort of vehicle via hitch, chains or other similar method may be used as an ice cream or shaved ice vending truck.

(Ord. No. 773, § 2(Exh. A), 4-5-22; Ord. No. 778, § 2(Exh. A), 3-17-2026)

All produce regulated by the California Department of Food and Agriculture shall be handled, transported, displayed or disposed of in accordance with all California Department of Food and Agriculture regulations as they now exist or as amended from time to time, including, but not limited to, the following:

A. All produce or commodities under quarantine by the California Department of Food and Agriculture will be protected or safeguarded in an approved manner by being bagged, covered or screened to prevent infestation; any open display is prohibited;

B. All produce, commodities or their husks, cores, rinds or pits shall be sealed in plastic bags before disposing of same;

C. Every food vending vehicle shall have a receipt, invoice, or bill of lading or other acceptable proof of origin of all produce or commodities under quarantine;

D. All produce or commodities under quarantine that are sold, offered for sale or transported within the quarantine area must be of commercial origin;

E. Any violation of this section may result in the seizure of the produce or commodities in violation; all seized items will be destroyed;

F. The intent of this section is to address produce sales on food vending vehicles, not to permit vehicles that sell produce exclusively from vehicles.

(Ord. No. 773, § 2(Exh. A), 4-5-22)

All food vending vehicles are prohibited from operating on private property except:

A. If a land use permit has been obtained from the director of the planning department; or

B. To provide meals for employees located at an existing business on private property for a period of thirty minutes or less within a twelve-hour period. Additional time for a specified location may be permitted by the director of the planning department pursuant to Section 5.56.080. No person vending from a food vending vehicle shall set up or cause to be set up any table, chairs or any other seating for use by customers of the food vending vehicle.

(Ord. No. 773, § 2(Exh. A), 4-5-22; Ord. No. 778, § 2(Exh. A), 3-17-2026)

A. It is unlawful for any person to own, lease, drive, operate or cause or permit to be driven or operated any food vending vehicle in the city of vending purposes unless such person has submitted with his/her application for permit a motor vehicle liability insurance policy, covering each food vending vehicle, issued by a solvent corporation holding a certificate of authority to do insurance business in the state of California, which policy shall conform in all respects to the requirements of this chapter.

B. The required motor vehicle liability policy shall insure the owner, driver and any other person using or responsible for the use of any food vending vehicle with the consent, expressed or implied, of such owner, driver or person, against loss from the liability imposed upon such owner, driver or person by law for injury to, or death of, any person, or damage to property due to the maintenance, operation or ownership of any food vending vehicle, in an amount of one million dollars, combined single limit, no aggregate.

C. Every insurance policy and every certificate of motor vehicle liability insurance filed with the city pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall contain the following endorsements:

1. It is understood and agreed that, notwithstanding expressions consistent with or contrary thereto in this policy contained, the policy is expressly issued to cover a motor vehicle regulated by the provisions of this chapter. This policy shall insure to, and be for the benefit and protection of, anyone who shall sustain any damages or injury, or to the heirs, personal representatives, administrators, executors or assigns of any such person who may be so damaged or injured or suffer death, by reason of the operation of the motor vehicle or from the defective condition thereof. Liability under this policy shall in no manner be abrogated or abated by the death or dissolution of the feasor or the insured.

2. There is continuing liability up to the full amount of the policy, notwithstanding any action or recovery thereon.

3. No cancellation or reduction in coverage of this policy for any reason whatsoever shall become effective until the expiration of thirty days after written notice of such cancellation or reduction in coverage shall have been given to the director of the planning department. Said period of thirty days to commence running from the date said notice is actually received by the director of the planning department.

(Ord. No. 773, § 2(Exh. A), 4-5-22; Ord. No. 778, § 2(Exh. A), 3-17-2026)

A. In addition to other equipment required by law, each food vending vehicle shall be equipped with the following:

1. A convex mirror mounted so that the occupant of the driver's seat can see the area in front of the truck which is obscured by the vehicle's hood;

2. A back-up alarm audible for a distance of at least one hundred feet.

(Ord. No. 773, § 2(Exh. A), 4-5-22)

A. Each food vending vehicle, including the interior of cabinet units or compartments, shall be equipped so as to have smooth, easily accessible, and easily cleanable surfaces. Unfinished wooden surfaces are not permitted. Construction joints shall be tightly fitted and sealed so as to be readily cleanable. Equipment, including utensils, shall be constructed of nontoxic materials and shall be readily cleanable.

B. During the vending operation, no food shall be stored, displayed or served from any place other than the food vending vehicle.

C. Food condiments shall be protected from contamination and, where available for self-service, shall be prepackaged or available only from approved dispensing devices.

D. During transportation and storage, food and food contact surfaces shall be protected from contamination.

E. All food vending vehicles shall operate out of a commissary or other facility approved by the county of Kern health department. Food vending vehicles shall report to the commissary at least once each operating day for cleaning and servicing operations. In addition, food vending vehicles whereon nonpackaged hot dogs are handled shall be properly stored at a commissary or other facility approved by the county of Kern health department so as to be protected from unclean or unsanitary conditions.

F. Food products remaining after each day's operation shall be stored only in a food facility approved by the county of Kern health department.

G. Utensils and equipment shall be handled and stored so as to be protected from contamination. Single-service utensils shall be contained only in sanitary containers or approved sanitary dispensers, stored in a clean, dry place until used, handled in a sanitary manner, and used once only.

H. All wastewater shall be drained to a water receptor approved by the county of Kern health department.

I. Readily perishable foods shall be maintained at or below seven degrees Celsius (forty-five degrees Fahrenheit) or at or above sixty degrees Celsius (one hundred forty degrees Fahrenheit) at all times.

J. Vending from a food vending vehicle pursuant to a land use certificate shall be conducted within sixty meters (two hundred feet) of approved and readily available toilet and hand washing facilities or as otherwise approved by the county of Kern health department to ensure proper sanitary facilities are available to the mobile food vendors, operators, and their customers.

(Ord. No. 773, § 2(Exh. A), 4-5-22; Ord. No. 778, § 2(Exh. A), 3-17-2026)

A. There shall be displayed in a conspicuous place on both the right and left side of the food vending vehicle lettering permanently affixed showing the name of the company or operator of the food vending vehicle and the business address and telephone number thereof. The lettering for the name of the company or the operator of the food vending vehicle shall not be less than four inches in height, shall be in contrast to the color of the background upon which they are placed, and shall have strokes at least three-eighths of an inch wide. The lettering for the business address and telephone number shall not be less than one inch high.

B. No other lettering, numbering, price lists, signs or insignia shall be displayed on the right and left side of the food vending vehicle so as to interfere with the visibility of the lettering required in subsection A of this section.

C. Any ice cream truck shall be equipped at all times, while engaged in vending, with signs mounted on both the front and the rear and clearly legible from a distance of one hundred feet under daylight conditions, incorporating the words "WARNING" and "CHILDREN CROSSING." Each sign shall be at least twelve inches high by thirty-six inches wide, with letters of a dark color and at least four inches in height, a one inch wide solid border, and a sharply contrasting background.

(Ord. No. 773, § 2(Exh. A), 4-5-22)

A. Horns shall be permitted to be used only when reasonably necessary to insure the safe operation of the food vending vehicle while being operated on any public or private street, alley or highway or on public property.

B. No person on a food vending vehicle shall operate any horns, sound amplification systems or other sound producing devices when such vehicle is moving, stopped, standing, or parked for purposes of advertisement on any public or private street, alley or highway or on public property.

(Ord. No. 773, § 2(Exh. A), 4-5-22)

The provisions of this chapter shall be applicable to all persons and businesses described herein whether the herein described activities were established before or after the effective date of the ordinance enacting this chapter into law. All such persons and businesses shall have thirty days from said effective date to file a completed application for a vendor or operator's permit with the director of the planning department.

(Ord. No. 773, § 2(Exh. A), 4-5-22; Ord. No. 778, § 2(Exh. A), 3-17-2026)

Any food vending vehicle operated contrary to the provisions of this chapter is unlawful and a public nuisance and the city attorney may, in addition to or in lieu of prosecuting a criminal action hereunder, commence an action or actions proceeding or proceedings, for the abatement, removal or enjoyment thereof, and may take such other steps and may apply to such court or courts as may have jurisdiction to grant such relief as will abate or remove such establishment and restrain and enjoin any person from operating a food vending vehicle contrary to the provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 773, § 2(Exh. A), 4-5-22)

Editor's note— Sec. 2 of Ord. No. 710, adopted Feb. 5, 2019, repealed § 5.56.220, which pertained to the prohibition of sales from human-powered devices, and derived from Ord. 594, 2007.

The requirements of this chapter shall not apply to:

A. Any person delivering any goods or merchandise by vehicle where such goods or merchandise have been ordered in advance for such delivery from any business located at a permanent location and which goods or merchandise are being delivered from such location to the customer by vehicle, regardless of the point of sale thereof;

B. Any person engaged in the vending of goods or merchandise on public property where such person has been authorized by the city to engage in such activity by a permit, lease, real property license, agreement or other entitlements issued by the city for such purpose.

(Ord. No. 773, § 2(Exh. A), 4-5-22)

Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the number of permits to vend from ice cream trucks (not including ice cream pushcarts) shall be limited to one permit per four thousand in population of the city as provided by the State Department of Finance. Fractional remainders shall always be rounded down to the next whole number.

(Ord. No. 773, § 2(Exh. A), 4-5-22)

Every violation of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed to be a misdemeanor and, upon violation thereof, shall be punishable as provided for in Chapter 1.08 of this code. Each day any violation of any provision of this chapter shall continue shall constitute a separate offense.

(Ord. No. 773, § 2(Exh. A), 4-5-22)

Any vendor legally operating within the city limits as of the date of adoption of the ordinance codified in this chapter shall be "grandfathered" in and may continue to operate within the city subject to all requirements contained herein until June 30, 2007. Subsequently, on July 1, 2007, all food vending vehicles as defined herein shall be subject to limitations as provided in Section 5.56.240 of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 773, § 2(Exh. A), 4-5-22)

A. The city, except as otherwise required by state or federal law, shall not provide voluntary consent to any individual to access, review or obtain any of the city's records obtained pursuant to this chapter that include personally identifiable information of any sidewalk vendor without a subpoena or judicial warrant. This paragraph does not prohibit the city from challenging the validity of a subpoena or judicial warrant in a federal district court.

B. The city shall not disclose or provide in writing, verbally or in any other manner personally identifiable information of any sidewalk vendor obtained pursuant to this chapter that is requested, except pursuant to a subpoena or valid judicial warrant.

(Ord. No. 778, § 2(Exh. A), 3-17-2026)

A. The city shall not inquire into or collect information or documentation about an individual's immigration or citizenship status or place of birth pursuant to this chapter.

B. The city shall not inquire into or collect information or documentation regarding and individual's criminal history and shall no require an applicant to submit fingerprints, complete a LiveScan fingerprinting, or submit to a background check pursuant to this chapter.

C. Any information or documentation the city inquired into or collected regarding an individual's place of birth or criminal history, required an applicant to submit fingerprints or complete a LiveScan fingerprinting or performed a background check before January 1, 2026, such information and documentation shall be destroyed on or before March 1, 2026, unless the information and documentation are expressly required by law to be preserved.

(Ord. No. 778, § 2(Exh. A), 3-17-2026)