Paso Robles City Council
August 5, 2025

CITY OF EL PASO DE ROBLES
"The Pass of the Oaks"
City Council Agenda Addendum

Tuesday, August 5, 2025, 4:30 PM
Tuesday, August 5, 2025, 6:00 PM
Council Chamber - Library/Conference Center
1000 Spring Street
Paso Robles, CA 93446
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Pages
R. DISCUSSION ITEMS
*1. Legislative Update and Review Regarding Food Truck Regulations 2 - 14 Piper Smith, Assistant Planner
CEQA Determination: The City finds that this action is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines, §§ 15060, subd. (c)(2)-(3) and 15378.

Recommendation:

Direct staff to return to City Council with an amendment to Chapter 21.69.120, “Food Trucks and Food Truck Courts” requiring Temporary Use Permits (TUP) for all food trucks operating in Paso Robles;
or
Establish an Ad Hoc Committee of the City Council to facilitate a more focused review and gather additional input on food truck regulations City Council Agenda August 5, 2025
Council Agenda Report
From: Piper Smith, Assistant Planner
Subject: Legislative Update and Review Regarding Food Truck Regulations CEQA Determination: The City finds that this action is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines, §§ 15060, subd. (c)(2)-(3) and 15378.

Date: August 5, 2025
Facts

1. On October 1, 2024, City Council approved a variety of updates to the Paso Robles Zoning Code, Title 21 of the Paso Robles Municipal Code, including updates to Section 21.69.120, “Food Trucks and Food Truck Courts” (Attachment 1). This section of the Municipal Code establishes the permit requirements and operational standards for food trucks operating within the City limits.

2. All food trucks operating within the City limits are required to: comply with the operational requirements of Section 21.69.120; have a valid City business license; and have an active County of San Luis Obispo Environmental Health Permit.

3. In addition to the above requirements, food trucks operating at one location for more than seven days in a calendar year, but less than one year, are required to obtain a Temporary Use Permit (TUP) and must meet the findings provided in Section 21.20.070 “Findings for Approval and Revocation” (Attachment 2).

4. On May 6, 2025, Councilmember Gregory requested a discussion regarding food truck regulations return to the City Council.

5. As of July 2025, there are approximately 23 active “Mobile Food Truck/Vendor” business licenses and two active Temporary Use Permits issued for food trucks.

6. Community Service Officers have received 36 calls for service from April 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025, regarding mobile vendors (including food trucks and street vendors).

7. The current Paso Robles Municipal Code creates challenges in enforcing the food truck standards and permitting requirements due to its ambiguity and vagueness.

8. Over the past several months, Community Development staff have been working with Community Services Officers, the Wastewater Pretreatment Coordinator, and the Finance Department to analyze the existing food truck requirements and permitting process and initiate a discussion with City Council to determine the most effective path forward for regulating food truck operations with City limits.

Community Outreach
The following list details the outreach effort that has been taken to communicate this item with the public and significant stakeholders.
 Social Media Posts (Nextdoor, Facebook, Instagram, and ‘X’)  City Press Release

 Mail notification to Downtown Main Street Association, Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce, Temporary Use Permit holders (active, pending, and expired), and Mobile Food Truck/Vendor Business Licenses holders (active, pending, and expired) Options

1. Receive and file this report;

2. Direct staff to return to City Council with an amendment to Paso Robles Municipal Code Section

21.69.120, “Food Trucks and Food Truck Courts” requiring, among other things, a Temporary Use Permit (TUP) for all food trucks operating in Paso Robles; or

3. Establish an Ad Hoc Committee of the City Council to facilitate a more focused review and gather additional input on food truck regulations; or

4. Provide alternative feedback or direction for staff.

Analysis and Conclusions
Section 21.69.120 of the Paso Robles Zoning Code outlines the permitting requirements and operational standards for food trucks within City limits. In February 2025, the Community Development Department was made aware of an increasing number of food trucks operating out of compliance. During this time, Community Services Officers experienced a significant increase in calls for service, with 36 mobile vendorrelated complaints received in the past three months. Additionally, local officials received concerns from various stakeholders regarding the concentration of food trucks in the downtown and along major corridors such as Spring Street, Creston Road, and Niblick Road.

In response, the Planning Division has coordinated with Community Services Officers, the Finance Division, the Wastewater Division, and the County of San Luis Obispo Environmental Health Department to evaluate and strengthen the food truck permitting process. Departmental priorities include improving interdepartmental communication, accessible record keeping, and clear guidelines.

Food truck operators have also voiced concern about the limited communication regarding the update to the food truck guidelines included in the adoption of the 2024 Zoning Code, a lack of eligible sites that meet all operational requirements, and the need to continue to conduct business during the permit review process. Conversely, local restaurants have expressed concerns about food trucks undercutting their business with lower overhead costs.

To address these concerns, staff is taking the following steps:
 Increasing public outreach to ensure prospective and current operators are fully informed of the permitting requirements;
 Drafting a dedicated Temporary Use Permit application for food trucks that consolidates all applicable department standards;
 Developing a standardized permit template to assist the Community Service Department in verifying compliance during field inspections and enforcement; and  Translating all materials into Spanish.

Based on the discussion conducted during the City Council meeting, staff will finalize the materials associated with the current food truck permitting process and use City Council recommendations to identify the most effective path forward to ensure all food trucks are in compliance and able to conduct business appropriately.

Staff has one recommendation for an amendment to the food truck regulations in that a Temporary Use Permit be required for all food truck operations. Currently, a Temporary Use Permit is required only when a food truck operates from a single location for 7 or more days. The 7-day allowance creates a loophole where a food truck can continue to change locations, thereby restarting the 7-day clock. This significantly complicates code enforcement efforts.

Prior to making any changes, the City Council may consider forming a two-member ad hoc committee to facilitate a more focused review and gather additional input on food truck regulations. This committee, composed solely of two City Councilmembers, would have the flexibility to meet informally with stakeholders—including food truck operators, brick-and-mortar restaurant owners, and members of the public—to further explore concerns and potential solutions. While the ad hoc committee itself would consist only of the appointed Councilmembers, members of the public would be welcome to attend and participate in the committee's meetings. Any recommendations developed by the committee would be brought back to the full City Council for formal discussion and potential action at a future meeting. This approach would allow for more in-depth dialogue while maintaining public engagement throughout the process.

Fiscal Impact
There is no significant fiscal impact expected as a result of this discussion item.

CEQA
The City finds that this action is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines, §§ 15060, subd. (c)(2)-(3) and 15378 because it solely involves discussion and direction on food truck permitting procedures and operational standards, including potential amendments to the Paso Robles Municipal Code, all of which will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.

Recommendation (Option 2 or Option 3 )
Direct staff to return to City Council with an amendment to Chapter 21.69.120, “Food Trucks and Food Truck Courts” requiring Temporary Use Permits (TUP) for all food trucks operating in Paso Robles; or
Establish an Ad Hoc Committee of the City Council to facilitate a more focused review and gather additional input on food truck regulations
Attachments

1. Current Paso Robles Municipal Code Chapter 21.69.120, “Food Trucks and Food Truck Courts”

2. Current Paso Robles Municipal Code – Zoning Code Chapter 21.20, “Temporary Use Permits”

3. Updated City of Paso Robles Food Truck Handout

 













 



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What is NOT allowed? What is allowed?
Type of Temporary
Food Truck
Permit Requirement(s)
Food truck lasting less than
7 days
Business License
SLO County Health Permit
Food trucks lasting more
than 7 days, but less than 1
year
Business License
SLO County Health Permit
Temporary Use Permit (specific to a singe
site and for a maximum of 1 year)
Food Trucks operating for
more than 1 year
Business License
SLO County Health Permit
Site Plan Review (specific to a single site)
Two or more food trucks
operating at the same
location
Business License
SLO County Health Permit
Conditional Use Permit (specific to a
single site
What permits and approvals do I need?

FOOD TRUCK

QUESTIONS
In a commercial zoning district,
and
On private property, and
On a site with an existing
permanent business
Vending food from a licensed
food truck vehicle
Food trucks on otherwise vacant
property or dirt lots
Food trucks in City parks without
permission from the Recreation
Department
Food trucks parked on the street for
longer than 15 minutes
Erecting canopies, tarps, and similar
shade structures
Tables and chairs
Providing heaters
Sale of non-food items
Blocking driveways
Attachment 3

¿Qué NO está permitido? ¿Qué está permitido?

PREGUNTAS SOBRE

LOS CAMIONES DE
COMIDA
¿Qué permisos y aprobaciones necesito?
Tipo de camión de
comida temporal
Requisito(s) de permiso
Camione de comida por
menos de 7 días
Licencia comercial
Permiso de salud del condado de SLO
Camione de comida por más
de 7 días, pero menos de 1
año
Licencia comercial
Permiso de salud del condado de SLO
Permiso de uso temporal (específico para un solo sitio y por un máximo de 1 año)
Camione de comida que
operan por más de 1 año
Licencia comercial
Permiso de salud del condado de SLO
Revisión del plan del sitio (específico para un solo sitio) Dos o más camione de
comida operando en la
misma ubicación
Licencia comercial
Permiso de salud del condado de SLO
Permiso de uso condicional (específico para un solo
sitio)
Camiones de comida en propiedades
que de otro modo estarían vacías o en
lotes de tierra.

Camiones de comida en parques de la
ciudad sin permiso del Departamento
de Recreación
Camiones de comida estacionados en
la calle durante más de 15 minutos
Montaje de marquesinas, lonas y
estructuras de sombra similares.

Mesas y sillas
Proporcionar calentadores
Venta de artículos no alimentarios.

Bloquear entradas
En un distrito de zonificación
comercial, y
En propiedad privada y
En un sitio con un negocio
permanente existente
Venta de comida desde un
vehículo de camión de
comida autorizado
Attachment 3