Chapter 5.40 — Mobile Food Trucks

The purpose of this chapter is to regulate mobile food truck activities in order to protect public health, safety, and welfare, while accommodating commercial uses that generally promote an active and social pedestrian environment within appropriate areas of the city of Susanville. (Ord. 19-1016 § 1, 2019)

The following words and terms are defined for the purpose of applying the provisions of this chapter:

"Business license" means a city of Susanville business license.

"Mobile food truck" means a motorized vehicle or vehicle-towed trailer, including food carts, in which food is cooked and/or prepared to order and is served to walk up customers.

"Mobile food truck event" means an organized gathering of mobile food truck vendors which is open to the general public.

"Mobile food truck vending" means selling, vending, supplying or providing of food, drinks or any other consumables from a vehicle, truck, trailer or cart.

"Mobile vending license" means a license issued for the purpose of mobile vending pursuant to Chapter 5.04.

"Property owner" means the holder of fee title to a property, whether a person, partnership, corporation or other entity recognized by law, and his/her/its lessees, permittees, assignees or successors in interest.

"Public property" means any real property owned, leased, operated, or controlled by the city of Susanville other than a street, alley, parkway, sidewalk or other area dedicated, identified or used as a public right-of-way.

"Public right-of-way" means any public street, road, avenue, highway, named or unnamed alley, lane, court, place, trail, parkway, sidewalk or other public way, operated and/or controlled by the city or other public entity, or subject to an easement owned by or dedicated or granted to the city.

"Special event" means an activity or series of activities as defined in Section 12.32.020 of this code.

(Ord. 19-1016 § 1, 2019)

No person shall conduct a mobile food truck vending operation within the city of Susanville, without first obtaining a mobile vending license from the city, except under the following conditions:

• A. No mobile vending license shall be required when the mobile food truck activity is associated with the operation of a city-permitted special event, subject to the conditions thereof.

• B. No mobile vending license shall be required when the mobile vending activity is limited to a single mobile food truck on private property operating solely for private catering purposes and when all of the following provisions are met:

  1. The mobile food truck is parked entirely on private property.

  2. Service is limited to the guests of the catered event only.

  3. No payment transactions shall occur for individual orders taken by the mobile food truck operator.

(Ord. 19-1016 § 1, 2019)

Unless otherwise authorized by this code, it is unlawful for any person to operate a mobile food truck in the city of Susanville without having a valid business license obtained from the city of Susanville.

(Ord. 19-1016 § 1, 2019)

It is unlawful for any person to engage in the activity of operating a mobile food truck in the city of Susanville without a valid permit, certificate, or other authorization as required by the county of Lassen Department of Environmental Health. A copy of said permit must be kept in the mobile food truck at all times.

(Ord. 19-1016 § 1, 2019)

All mobile food truck operators, are subject to reporting of tax revenues generated within the city of Susanville to the State Board of Equalization, and to show proof of a seller's permit obtained by the State Board of Equalization.

(Ord. 19-1016 § 1, 2019)

• A. No mobile food truck may operate before seven a.m. or after ten p.m., including setup and clean-up, except for private catering functions or special events as described in Section 12.32.020 .

• B. No mobile food truck may operate within 250 feet of any off-street mobile food truck event, citypermitted special or reoccurring event. Exceptions to this prohibition are allowed when consent is provided within the special event permit. In this case, all standards and conditions required by Section 12.32.020 apply.

• C. Mobile food trucks must not idle vehicle engines more than five minutes during any one hour time period.

• D. Mobile food truck operators must be responsible for controlling smoke and odors caused by food preparation so as to avoid a public nuisance.

• E. No amplified music or loudspeakers are permitted. The operation must comply with all noise provisions of the city of Susanville Municipal Code.

• F. No temporary lighting shall be provided on the site where the mobile food truck is operating, except that localized lighting may be used on or in the mobile food trucks for the purpose of inside food preparation and menu illumination, except as otherwise permitted for a special event.

• G. No signage other than that exhibited on the mobile food truck may be displayed at the site where the mobile food truck is operating. The prohibition includes any handheld signage and handbills.

• H. All sales or service of alcohol by mobile food trucks is prohibited.

• I. Mobile food trucks must not operate within 250 feet of an existing restaurant operating out of a permanent structure except with written authorization of restaurant owner or on-site manager.

• J. The mobile food truck operator must maintain and supply to the city, copies of policies of commercial general liability and automobile liability, in an amount of no less than one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) per occurrence, naming the city as an additional insured.

• (Ord. 19-1016 § 1, 2019)

Mobile food trucks may operate on private property in C-2 (General Commercial/Shopping Center), PF (Public Facilities), O-S (Open Space) and UBD (Uptown Business District) pursuant to the following minimum standards and conditions:

• A. A minimum of two off-street parking spaces must be provided for each mobile food truck. The parking required herein must not be reserved, encumbered, or designated to satisfy the offstreet parking of another business or activity that is operating on the site at the same time as the mobile food truck.

• B. Separate refuse and recycling containers must be provided on-site during all hours of mobile food truck operations. All litter generated within a minimum of a 100 foot radius of the site must be collected prior to closure of the mobile food truck operations.

• C. No overnight parking of mobile food trucks is allowed on the permitted vending site.

• D. A maximum 200 square foot uncovered seating area may be provided to serve patrons of the mobile food truck. All seating areas must be removed before the close of business for the day. The seating must be located in an area of the site that is not landscaped, reserved, encumbered, or designated to satisfy the off street parking of a business or activity that is operating at the same time as the mobile food truck, and must not obstruct any pedestrian or vehicular traffic.

• (Ord. 19-1016 § 1, 2019)

Mobile food trucks may operate in legal parking spaces located adjacent to C-2 (General Commercial/Shopping Center), PF (Public Facilities) O-S (Open Space) and UBD (Uptown Business District) districts, provided they comply with all of the following minimum standards and conditions:

• A. Mobile food trucks must be parked directly adjacent to a paved sidewalk, free and clear for pedestrian passage.

• B. Food service must be limited solely to that side of the mobile food truck facing the adjacent sidewalk.

• C. The mobile food truck must be in full compliance with all parking and vehicle code provisions which apply to the location at which it is parked, including the maximum allowed parking time limit for the parking space(s) occupied.

• D. The mobile food truck operations must not obstruct pedestrian or vehicular traffic.

• E. The mobile food truck operator must not encroach upon a public sidewalk with any part of the vehicle or any other equipment or furniture related to the operation of its business, except for required refuse and recycling receptacles, provided they maintain a clear four-foot pedestrian walkway.

• F. No mobile food truck operator must conduct business unless he or she maintains a clearly designated refuse and recycling receptacle(s) in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle. Such receptacles must be marked with a sign requesting use by patrons. Before leaving the location, the mobile food truck operator must pick up, remove and dispose of all trash generated by the mobile food truck operations within 100 feet of the truck.

• G. No mobile food truck is permitted to operate in such a way so as to cause an unacceptable reduction in sight distance for any cross street, crosswalk, driveway or any other similar location

where traffic, be it vehicular, pedestrian or bicycle, can be expected to enter the roadway. (Ord. 19-1016 § 1, 2019)

In the event of a conflict between the city of Susanville Municipal Code regarding peddlers, solicitors, and mobile vendors and this city of Susanville Municipal Code Chapter 5.40 with respect to mobile food trucks, this city of Susanville Municipal Code Chapter 5.40 controls. (Ord. 19-1016 § 1, 2019)

Any person who violates any provision of this chapter, upon conviction thereof may be punished in accordance with the provisions of this code. In addition to any other penalty prescribed for a violation of this chapter, upon a determination by the city that a person has violated any provision hereof, the city may revoke each and all business licenses which have been issued pursuant to this chapter, to the person who committed such violation and to the business by whom such person was employed when the violation occurred. In addition to any other penalty prescribed for a violation of this chapter, such a violation constitutes grounds for denial of the issuance or renewal of such a business license to the person who committed the violation and to the business by whom such person was employed when the violation occurred.

(Ord. 19-1016 § 1, 2019)

City of Susanville, CA Tuesday, July 7, 2026