Staff Report
City Council
Item No. 4.B
Meeting Date: October 22, 2025
From: Andrew Firestine, Community and Economic Development Director Title: Regulations for the Operation of Food Trucks within Cathedral City RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt the first reading of an uncodified ordinance implementing a temporary food truck pilot program on private property. The Pilot program designates specified areas and time-limited permits for legal food truck operations on private property to evaluate the effects. The pilot program shall: Operate for 18 months unless rescinded or extended by Council, include a cap of 10 permits, and be subject to evaluations for potential incorporation into Chapter
5.82. BACKGROUND:
Cathedral City currently regulated food trucks in the public right-of-way but not comprehensively on private property. Neighboring Coachella Valley cities generally allow private-property operation with conditions. The proposed pilot provides a controlled framework to: Improve safety and compliance (move operations onto paved/lawful sites with restrooms and ADA access), protect nearby restaurants and schools through buffers, hours, and site standards, and generate data to inform a potential permanent code update.
DISCUSSION:
Key Points of Program:
Scope: Private property only; does not amend Cathedral City Municipal Code Ch.
5.82 Location & Surfacing: Must operate on an improved surface; paved, striped parking serving an active primary use. No vacant or unimproved lots. Property Owner Consent: Written, notarized, authorization identifying exact location and hours and restroom use agreements.
Restrooms: 150 feet or less by accessible path to a permanent restroom/handwash facility open during operating hours (no porta-potties except under City-issued Special Use Permit).
Hours: 9:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. (extensions only via SUP). Site Envelope & Fixtures: Entire operation contained within 3 or less parking spaces or total of 600 sq feet including the mobile food facility (MFF); no exterior cooking maintain ADA paths; no amplified sound; onboard/enclosed generators only; must adhere to City noise limits.
Buffers:
oSchools: 500 feet from school property, 7:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. on school days unless principal consents.
oEating/Drinking Establishments 500 feet
One per parcel: Max 1 MFF per parcel at a time (multiple only via SUP). Licenses/Tax: Display City business license, County Environmental Health permit/grade, and a California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) seller’s permit.
Trash & Cleanliness: Lidded receptacle; daily removal; joint responsibility with host for litter within 50 feet.
On July 9, 2025, the City Council conducted a study session discussion on 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. This feedback has been incorporated into the proposed ordinance.
In a study session discussion on September 24, 2025, the City Council provided additional comments and direction to City staff, including recommendations to reduce the distance from a food vending truck to a restroom and to include a provision in the ordinance requiring a CDTFA seller’s permit as part of an application. These comments have been incorporated into the proposed ordinance. The distance to a restroom was reduced from 200 feet to 150 feet. The ordinance requires a mobile food vendor to obtain a seller’s permit and to display it on a mobile food facility. City Council also asked questions about the potential for a mobile food vendor to operate on an unimproved surface. The ordinance has been modified to clarify that the use may only be permitted on an improved surface as an accessory use to an established principal use.
The proposed ordinance has also been modified since September 24, 2025 to reduce the buffer from existing eating and drinking establishments from 750 feet to 500 feet based on GIS analysis of 250-, 500-, and 750-foot buffers from existing eating and drinking establishments with a current or expired (within the last 12 months) business license. All three maps are attached for reference. The 750-foot buffer was based on a standard in the City of Palm Desert. If applied in Cathedral City, it may be overly restrictive, particularly on the Palm Canyon Drive, Date Palm Drive, and Ramon Road corridors, limiting the potential locations where a mobile food vendor could operate on private property or otherwise requiring them to obtain permission from multiple businesses. A 500-foot buffer remains restrictive, although it does create additional opportunities. City Council can choose to modify this distance based on the maps as part of its motion to adopt the ordinance implementing the pilot program.
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. At the conclusion of the pilot, Council may rescind, extend, or amend the ordinance.
Should the program be deemed successful, Council may consider a permanent amendment to Chapter 5.82 of the Cathedral City Municipal Code that will allow food trucks to operate on private property with clear conditions.
o
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact with
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
Not applicable.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Food Truck Ordinance Draft – 10-02-2025
2. 250 Ft Buffer of Eating & Drinking Establishments within the City
3. 500 Ft. Buffer of Eating & Drinking Establishments within the City
4. 750 Ft Buffer of Eating & Drinking Establishments within the City