City of Paso Robles – City Council Public Comments call 805-865-7276 1 City Council
Food Truck Ad Hoc Committee
Recommendations for Food Trucks
December 16th, 2025
City of Paso Robles – City Council Ad Hoc Committee Public Comments call 805-865-7276 2 ▪ Generators
▪ Food Truck policies versus public information
▪ Fire inspections
▪ Food truck complaints
▪ Accessory structures
▪ 7-day rule for private events/catering
Ad Hoc Meeting Recap
September 22nd & November 12th
City of Paso Robles – City Council Ad Hoc Committee Public Comments call 805-865-7276 3 Generators
Recommendation #1
PRMC Section 21.69.120.D.7:
Noise: The vendor shall be subject to the noise
provisions set forth in Chapter 21.82 (Noise). The operation shall at all times be conducted in a manner not detrimental to surrounding properties or residents by reason of lights, noise, activities, parking, or other actions. The vendor shall prohibit loitering at the site and shall control noisy patrons on-site and those leaving the premises. No amplified music or loudspeakers shall be permitted.
Operational Requirement Update: When generator can't
meet noise standards - food trucks will utilize generator acoustic panels to protect adjacent land uses and the public right-of-way from excessive noise and to comply with the Noise Ordinance.
City of Paso Robles – City Council Ad Hoc Committee Public Comments call 805-865-7276 4 Accessory Furniture (tables, chairs, and shade structures) Recommendation #2:
Operational Requirement Update
Accessory furniture is not permitted:
1.In the public right of way (e.g.,
sidewalk or parkways),or
2. Where it will obstruct circulation,
ingress, or egress
The following accessory furniture is permitted:
3. One (1) shade structure, no more than 120
square feet in size,
4. Table(s) totaling no more than 24 square feet
in size,
5. Eight (8) chairs
City of Paso Robles – City Council Ad Hoc Committee Public Comments call 805-865-7276 5 Enforcement
Recommendation #3
Zoning Code Amendment: Amend Paso Robles Municipal Code Section 21.69.120 to require a Temporary Use Permit (TUP) for ALL food trucks operating in the City and vending to the public. Exception - food truck operating as a caterer for an event are not required to have a TUP.
Example
• Bob’s Burger Truck wants to vend to the public for one day or more • needs a temporary use permit
• Jill’s Winery hires Bob’s Burger truck to cater an exclusive event • No temporary use permit required
City of Paso Robles – City Council Ad Hoc Committee Public Comments call 805-865-7276 6 Enforcement
Recommendation #4
Zoning Code Amendment Amend Paso Robles Municipal Code Section
21.69.120 to require on-site commercial businesses hosting more than 7 events in a year to obtain a Temporary Use Permit for food trucks to participate in reoccurring events.
Example
• Jill’s Winery wants to host more than 8+ events at their tasting room serving their attendees Bobs Burger Truck
• Jill’s Winery needs a TUP
City of Paso Robles – City Council Ad Hoc Committee Public Comments call 805-865-7276 7 ▪ Require a minimum setback of 9 feet (half the
length of an uncovered parking space) for food
trucks with service windows facing the public
right-of-way
▪ No setback is required for food truck service
window facing internally into the commercial lot.
▪ Shade canopies, tables, and chairs area allowed
within the food truck setback.
▪ Allow the Zoning Administrator to increase or
decrease setback requirements for individual
temporary use permits to account for unique site
configurations.
Setbacks: Recommendation #5
Operational Requirement Update
City of Paso Robles – City Council Ad Hoc Committee Public Comments call 805-865-7276 8 Proximity to Downtown
Recommendation #6:
Operational Requirement Update
Temporary Use Permits will not be
granted on private property within
100 ft of the park.
City of Paso Robles – City Council 9
Ad Hoc Committee Recommendations
Operational Requirement Update-Effective Immediately
Recommendation #1 Food trucks will utilize generator acoustic panels to protect adjacent land uses and the public right-of-way from excessive noise and to comply with the Noise Ordinance.
Recommendation #2:
Accessory furniture is not permitted:
▪ In the public right of way (e.g., sidewalk or parkways),or ▪ Where it will obstruct circulation, ingress, or egress The following accessory furniture is permitted:
▪ 1 shade structure, no more than 120 square feet in size, ▪ Table(s) totaling no more than 24 square feet in size, and ▪ 8 chairs
Recommendation #5 Require a minimum setback of 9 feet (half the length of an uncovered parking space) for food trucks with service windows facing the public right-of-way (see Attachment 5). No setback is required for food truck service window facing internally into the commercial lot. Shade canopies, tables, and chairs area allowed within the food truck setback. Allow the Zoning Administrator to increase or decrease setback requirements for individual temporary use permits to account for unique site configurations.
Recommendation #6 Temporary Use Permits will not be granted on private property within 100 feet of City Park.
City of Paso Robles – City Council 10
Zoning Code Amendment
Direct staff to process Zoning Code Amendment to enact recommendation #3 & #4 #3 Amend Paso Robles Municipal Code Section 21.69.120 to require a Temporary Use Permit (TUP) for ALL food trucks operating in the City and vending to the public. Exception - food truck operating as a caterer for an event are not required to have a TUP. #4 Amend Paso Robles Municipal Code Section 21.69.120 to require on-site commercial businesses hosting more than 7 events in a year to obtain a Temporary Use Permit for food trucks to participate in reoccurring events.
Ad Hoc Committee Recommendations
City of Paso Robles – City Council Ad Hoc Committee Public Comments call 805-865-7276 11 Complete a Speaker Card (at the podium)
Begin by stating your name and address
Public Comment
City of Paso Robles – City Council Ad Hoc Committee Public Comments call 805-865-7276 12 City of Paso Robles – City Council Ad Hoc Committee Public Comments call 805-865-7276 13 Informational reserve
slides
City of Paso Robles – City Council Ad Hoc Committee Public Comments call 805-865-7276 14 Food trucks will utilize generator acoustic
panels to protect adjacent land uses and
the public right-of-way from excessive
noise and to comply with the Noise
Ordinance.
Recommendation #1
City of Paso Robles – City Council Ad Hoc Committee Public Comments call 805-865-7276 15 Recommendation #2
Accessory furniture is not permitted:
In the public right of way (e.g., sidewalk or parkways),or Where it will obstruct circulation, ingress, or egress
The following accessory furniture is permitted:
3. One (1) shade structure, no more than 120 square feet in size,
4. Table(s) totaling no more than 24 square feet in size,
5. Eight (8) chairs
City of Paso Robles – City Council Ad Hoc Committee Public Comments call 805-865-7276 16 Recommendation #3 & #4
#3 Amend Paso Robles Municipal Code Section 21.69.120 to require a Temporary Use Permit (TUP) for ALL food trucks operating in the City and vending to the public. Exception - food truck operating as a caterer for an event are not required to have a TUP.
#4 Amend Paso Robles Municipal Code Section 21.69.120 to require on-site commercial businesses hosting more than 7 events in a year to obtain a Temporary Use Permit for food trucks to participate in reoccurring events.
City of Paso Robles – City Council Ad Hoc Committee Public Comments call 805-865-7276 17 Recommendation #5
1. Require a minimum setback of 9 feet (half the length of an uncovered parking space) for food trucks with service windows facing the public right-of-way (see Attachment 5).
2. No setback is required for food truck service window facing internally into the commercial lot.
3. Shade canopies, tables, and chairs area allowed within the food truck setback.
4. Allow the Zoning Administrator to increase or decrease setback requirements for individual temporary use permits to account for unique site configurations.
City of Paso Robles – City Council Ad Hoc Committee Public Comments call 805-865-7276 18 Recommendation #6
Temporary Use Permits
will not be granted on
private property within
100 feet of City Park.
City of Paso Robles – City Council Ad Hoc Committee Public Comments call 805-865-7276 19 Proximity to Downtown 16th Street
7th Street
City of Paso Robles – City Council Ad Hoc Committee Public Comments call 805-865-7276 20 Setbacks
No setback required if vending window is faced away from the sidewalk City of Paso Robles – City Council Ad Hoc Committee Public Comments call 805-865-7276 21 No setback required if vending window faces the parking lot Setbacks
City of Paso Robles – City Council Ad Hoc Committee Public Comments call 805-865-7276 22 ▪ 9-foot setback required if vending window faces a property line. (parking spaces are generally 18 feet deep.)
Setbacks
City of Paso Robles – City Council Ad Hoc Committee Public Comments call 805-865-7276 23 Additional City Council Consideration
Is the City Council interested in committing the
necessary City resources, including staffing,
administration, and use of City facilities or streets, to support the development and ongoing operation of a
regularly occurring, organized food truck event?
City of Paso Robles – City Council Ad Hoc Committee Public Comments call 805-865-7276 24 Fire Department Inspections
PRMC Section 21.69.120.D.11:
January 1, 2023: County of San Luis Obispo County became responsible agency for inspections
January 1, 2026: City of Paso Robles Fire Department to conduct food truck inspections
• Fire Department is currently developing a process
• Public will be updated as soon as possible
City of Paso Robles – City Council 25
Ad Hoc Committee Recommendations
Operational Requirement Update-Effective Immediately
Recommendation #1 Food trucks will utilize generator acoustic panels to protect adjacent land uses and the public right-of-way from excessive noise and to comply with the Noise Ordinance.
Recommendation #2:
Accessory furniture is not permitted:
▪ In the public right of way (e.g., sidewalk or parkways),or ▪ Where it will obstruct circulation, ingress, or egress The following accessory furniture is permitted:
▪ 1 shade structure, no more than 120 square feet in size, ▪ Table(s) totaling no more than 24 square feet in size, and ▪ 8 chairs
Recommendation #5 Require a minimum setback of 9 feet (half the length of an uncovered parking space) for food trucks with service windows facing the public right-of-way (see Attachment 5). No setback is required for food truck service window facing internally into the commercial lot. Shade canopies, tables, and chairs area allowed within the food truck setback. Allow the Zoning Administrator to increase or decrease setback requirements for individual temporary use permits to account for unique site configurations.
Recommendation #6 Temporary Use Permits will not be granted on private property within 100 feet of City Park.
City of Paso Robles – City Council Ad Hoc Committee Public Comments call 805-865-7276 26 1st City Council
slides/general food
truck info
City of Paso Robles – City Council 27
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 28
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 29
What is NOT a Food Truck:
City of Paso Robles
– City Council Ad Hoc Committee 30
Food Truck Regulation Areas
1. Food Truck Regulations
private property
zoning regulations
PRMC 21.69.120
Ad Hoc Focus
2. City property
regulated by Park Permits
or Special Event Permits
3. Sidewalk vendors
regulated by California Gov
Code 51038 and
PRMC 3.28.390
4. Street Vendors
regulated by
PRMC 12.32.140 – 10 minutes max to vend
products
City of Paso Robles – City Council Public Comments call 805-865-7276 31 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 32 Food Truck Operational Requirements (City)
Located on Private Property
Property Owner Written Approval Subject to noise provisions (Chapter 21.82 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 Ad Hoc Committee Public Comments call 805-865-7276 33 Clear and Concise Rules
www.prcity.com/foodtrucks
City of Paso Robles – City Council Ad Hoc Committee Public Comments call 805-865-7276 34 City of Paso Robles – City Council Ad Hoc Committee Public Comments call 805-865-7276 35 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 36 ▪ 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