Staff Report
City Council
Item No. {{section.number}}.{{item.number}}
Meeting Date: September 24, 2025
From: Andrew Firestine, Director of Community and Economic Development Title: Regulations for the Operation of Food Trucks within Cathedral City RECOMMENDATION:
To direct staff to introduce an ordinance for 1st reading for the adoption of an uncodified ordinance implementing a temporary food truck pilot program on private property.
BACKGROUND:
Adopted in 2014, Chapter 5.82 “Regulations for the Operation of Food Trucks” focuses on the operation of food trucks within the public right-of-way. The chapter sets specific location requirements, permit requirements, and trash control requirements. Chapter 5.82 does not address the operation of food trucks on private property.
In the past three years, Cathedral City Code Compliance received five complaints regarding a food truck vendor. Upon review of these five complaints, Code Compliance determined that four of them were unfounded reports of legally operating food trucks. This low volume of requests across a period of three years suggests food truck activity in the City is low and has remained low despite the ability to obtain a permit to operate within the public right-of- way.
Other cities within the Coachella Valley, including Indio, Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Coachella, Desert Hot Springs, and La Quinta have all adopted changes to their codes to allow food trucks to operate on private property under certain conditions.
On July 9, 2025, the City Council conducted a study session discussion on potential changes to Chapter 5.82 of the Cathedral City Municipal Code to allow the operation of food trucks on private property. Through the discussion, Council raised questions and concerns with the proximity of food trucks to brick-and-mortar restaurants, operating hours, and insurance requirements. It was the consensus of the City Council to direct staff to draft a pilot program allowing food truck vendors to obtain a temporary permit to operate on private property.
DISCUSSION:
The proposed ordinance is being introduced as an uncodified ordinance because it is temporary in nature, intended solely to evaluate the effects of operating food trucks on private property. The food truck pilot program is proposed for a period of 18 months, unless it is extended or rescinded by City Council. Permits to operate a food truck under the pilot program are valid for a period of 12 months. Under the pilot program, a maximum of 10 permits may be issued. At the conclusion of the pilot, the program will be evaluated for the purpose of considering amendments to Chapter 5.82 of the Cathedral City Municipal Code to allow food trucks to operate on private property with clear conditions.
Outline of Food Truck Pilot Program
To permit the operation of food trucks on private property and improve the health and safety of customers, the ordinance proposes the following requirements:
•Written permission from the property owner to operate on the property. •A valid permit from Riverside County Department of Environmental Health. •A valid grade card/decal health inspection sticker displayed. •A valid business license from Cathedral City displayed. •Food vending trucks may only operate within the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. unless stated otherwise through the special use permit.
In addition, health, litter, and security measures shall also be required:
•Site of operation is to be kept safe and clean at all times. •To remain parked, the food truck must operate within 200 feet travel distance of a legally approved and permitted toilet and handwashing station that the operator has the permission of the property owner to use.
•No exterior storage of equipment, trash, or material.
•Any temporary site fixtures (chairs, tables, etc) are not to exceed 3 parking spaces or 600 square feet, including the food truck itself, and cannot block any pedestrian paths. •Vendor is responsible for the collection and disposal of site waste. •The serving or consumption of alcohol shall be prohibited at vending sites.
Limitations on where and when a food truck may operate under these conditions are also covered:
•A food truck vendor may not be parked within 500 feet of a school property line without the written permission of the school’s principal between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. •A food truck vendor may not be parked within 750 feet of any eating or drinking establishment unless it is associated with a special use permit that is active at that time, or those establishments within 750 feet have authorized the vendor to park within a lesser distance.
•Any food truck vendor operating contrary to the provisions set within the ordinance may be declared unlawful and a public nuisance, resulting in the revocation of a food vendor permit.
Community Benefits
Setting clear and enforceable regulations for the operation of food trucks on private property may benefit the community in the following ways:
•Safety: Allowing food trucks to operate in a fixed location allows the business to consistently remove itself from the public right-of-way increasing traffic safety and giving customers a safer environment to purchase their food.
•Growing Business: Adopting changes that allow for food trucks to operate more easily within Cathedral City may result in growth within this field of business and bring more commercial activity to Cathedral City.
•Inter-business Cooperation: Allowing food trucks to operate on private property with permission opens dialogue between mobile and static businesses in Cathedral City, potentially leading to new opportunities for both.
•Hygiene Requirements: Allowing food trucks to operate in a fixed location allows them to more easily and more safely address trash removal requirements and potentially allows access to regular bathrooms for both customers and operators.
Review of Other Cities
Other cities across the Coachella valley have identified the difficulties for food truck businesses within their own borders and have made the following changes to their municipal codes in an effort to permit food trucks to operate on private property with conditions:
•Indio and Desert Hot Springs, permit operation on private property with a permit and the consent of the property owner.
•Palm Springs, permits operation on private property with the consent of the property owner.
•Palm Desert, permits the operation of food trucks on private property but requires a minimum buffer of 750-ft from nearby restaurants.
•La Quinta, permits operation on specific private properties with a temporary use permit.
•Coachella, is currently running a pilot program at certain city parks and designated locations.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The food truck pilot program is expected to generate a modest positive fiscal impact to the City for the issuance of vendor permits and businesses licenses. The revenues generated by the program off-set costs to the City to administer the permits and licenses.
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
The food truck pilot program does not directly implement the Five-Year Strategic Plan.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Draft ordinance
2. Copies of regulations from other Coachella Valley cities