City of Paso Robles – City Council Public Comments call 805-865-7276 1 Food Truck Regulations
Update and Review
City of Paso Robles
City Council
August 5, 2025
City of Paso Robles – City Council 2
What is a Food Truck (City Zoning)?
• City Food Truck definition: A vending vehicle selling food and/or beverages in an operable motorized coach or trailer with a current Department of Motor Vehicles registration and a current food safety permit acceptable to the San Luis Obispo County Environmental Health Service Division.
City of Paso Robles – City Council 3
What is NOT a Food Truck:
City of Paso Robles – City Council 4
Obtain an approved
mobile food facility (MFF)
permit: County of SLO
Apply for a City
“Business License”
Business Tax Certificate
Renewal/inspection
required every year
Acknowledge FOG
(Fat, Oil, and Grease)
and Discharge
requirements
Acknowledge operational
requirements
Current City Permitting Process
and
Obtain food truck permit
City Industrial
Waste
Planning Department
City of Paso Robles – City Council Public Comments call 805-865-7276 5 ▪ Regulates food preparation and facility occupancy
▪ Restroom Use Agreement (annually)
– Conducting business 1 hour or more.
– 200 ft proximity
▪ Commissary Use Agreement (annually)
– Food truck storage
– Waste disposal
– Servicing and cleaning facility
County of SLO Public Health Department
Mobile Food Facility Permit
City of Paso Robles – City Council Public Comments call 805-865-7276 6 Zoning Code Standards - Food Trucks and Food Truck Court Code Sec. 21.69.120.
1. Food Truck – Short Term (single vehicle operating in one location 7 days or less) a) Business Tax Certificate and Operational Requirements for Food Trucks
2. Truck – Medium Term (1 vehicle operating in 1 location between 7 days and 1 year) a) Require approval of a Temporary Use Permit (staff level approval) b) Business Tax Certificate and Operational Requirements for Food Trucks
3. Food Truck – Long Term (single vehicle operating in one location 1 year or more). a) Approval of a Site Plan (DRC level approval)
b) Business Tax Certificate and Conform to Operational Requirements for Food Trucks
4. Food Truck Court (2 or more food trucks on a single site) a) Approval of a Conditional Use Permit (Planning Commission hearing) b) Business Tax Certificate and Conform to Operational Requirements for Food Trucks City of Paso Robles – City Council Public Comments call 805-865-7276 7 Food Truck Operational Requirements (City)
Located on Private Property
Subject to noise provisions (Chapter 21.82)
Generators can’t meet Noise Ordinance
Property Owner Written Approval
Accessory to Permanent Business
On Paved Surface Parking
Litter Removal
No Discharge of Liquid
No Temporary Shade Structure
Established Hours of Operation
On-site Circulation not impacted
Shall Not Block Egress
No Overnight Equipment Storage
City of Paso Robles – City Council Public Comments call 805-865-7276 8 Food Truck Locations
• 23 active food truck
business tax certificates
• 36 Code Compliance calls
- food truck complaints
April 1-June 30, 2025
Story Map link
City of Paso Robles – City Council Public Comments call 805-865-7276 9 ▪ New rules adopted end of 2024
▪ Contacting and communicating new rules to transitory food truck operators
▪ Short Term loophole
Site hopping to reset 7 days clock
– Council could consider Temporary Use Permit (TUP) for any food truck operating less than a year
–Ease enforcement efforts by removing 7-day timeframe and focusing on operational requirements
Code Compliance Challenges
City of Paso Robles – City Council Public Comments call 805-865-7276 10 Ongoing Staff Action
• www.prcity.com/foodtrucks
• Dedicated food truck Temporary
Use Permit application
• Standardized permit templates
• Shared internal
database/tracking
• Ongoing process improvements
City of Paso Robles – City Council Public Comments call 805-865-7276 11
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;
3. Establish an Ad Hoc Committee of the City Council to facilitate a more focused review and gather additional input on food truck regulations;
4. Provide alternative feedback or direction for staff.
Options
City of Paso Robles – City Council Public Comments call 805-865-7276 12 Option 2: Direct staff to return to City Council with an amendment to Chapter 21.69.120, “Food Trucks and Food Truck Courts”
a) Require a Temporary Use Permits (TUP) for all food trucks operating in Paso Robles;
b) Any other amendments the City Council may want to pursue Option 3: Establish an Ad Hoc Committee of the City Council to facilitate a more focused review and gather additional input on food truck regulations Staff Recommendation
OR
City of Paso Robles – City Council Public Comments call 805-865-7276 13 Questions?
City of Paso Robles – City Council Public Comments call 805-865-7276 14 City of Paso Robles – City Council Public Comments call 805-865-7276 15 CHAPTER 21.20. TEMPORARY USE PERMITS
1. would not impair the integrity and character of, the subject zoning district and complies with all applicable provisions of the Building and Fire Codes.
2. The subject site is physically suitable for the type and density/intensity of the proposed use.
3. The location, size, design, and operating characteristics of the proposed temporary use will not adversely impact surrounding properties.
4. The proposed temporary use will not adversely impact the public health, safety, or welfare.
5. There will be no potentially significant negative impacts upon environmental quality and natural resources that could not be properly mitigated and monitored.
6. There are adequate provisions for public access, parking, water, sanitation, and public utilities and services to ensure that the proposed use would not be detrimental to the public health and safety City of Paso Robles – City Council Public Comments call 805-865-7276 16 City of Paso Robles – City Council Public Comments call 805-865-7276 17 City of Paso Robles – City Council Public Comments call 805-865-7276 18 City of Paso Robles – City Council Public Comments call 805-865-7276 19