Food Truck Operators Get Some Good News In Beaumont

BEAUMONT, CA — The City of Beaumont has seen an increase in requests from food truck vendors wanting to sell their chow to local residents, and last week the City Council discussed the matter.

During the Dec. 7 regularly scheduled City Council meeting, city staff asked council members for direction on whether to draft the framework for an ordinance that would allow food trucks to operate in Beaumont.

Currently, food truck operators are restricted in the city. The only permit available is a temporary one that allows a food truck or other motorized, mobile food vendor to operate on private property, with permission of the property owner, for a maximum of 45 days per calendar year.

Permits that would allow food trucks on public streets are not available in the city. The city does permit "sidewalk vending," which allows for non-motorized food vending, among other things, in the public right of way.

According to city documents, several nearby cities do allow food trucks, including Hemet, Jurupa Valley, Perris and Riverside.

Council members directed the city's Community Development Director Christina Taylor to draft some ideas on how food trucks might legally operate in Beaumont on a regular basis.

In a future proposal for city council review, Taylor said staff will consider the concerns brought up by council members during the Dec. 7 meeting, such as sales tax, hours of operation, proximity near existing restaurants, restrooms, and other matters.

"We have the latitude to craft something specifically for the city that will meet your goals," she told the council members.