New rules for food trucks in Mapleton
MAPLETON – The rules are changing for food trucks in Mapleton, as its food vendor licensing bylaw was updated on Aug. 11.
Mapleton clerk Larry Wheeler said he hopes the updates “find a balance between regulating any bad behaviour and protecting our fixed-address restaurants.”
Moving forward, in order to operate in Mapleton, food vendors must pay for both an annual permit (with rates ranging from $150 for temporary food stands to $500 for food trucks) as well as a daily licensing fee of $30 per day.
Requirements for permits include adequate refuse collection, general liability insurance, a comprehensive site plan for proposed operating locations, and inspections from public health and the Mapleton fire department.
The bylaw applies to food trucks, chip wagons, ice cream vehicles, food trailers, refreshment cars, mobile canteens and temporary food stands.
It does not apply to agricultural producers selling farm products, church or charitable fundraising events operating for less than 24 hours, school fundraising events, township sanctioned events and township farmers’ markets.
Councillor Michael Martin asked what the purpose of the $30 daily licencing fee is, and Wheeler said it will help the bylaw and roads departments keep track of the “daily whereabouts of transient traders,” as well as give the township “an opportunity to decline their preferred location if Mapleton wasn’t happy with it.”
CAO Manny Baron added, “We want to remain fair, like Larry mentioned, to the bricks and mortar-type of businesses that can’t pop up where they’re wanted, and it keeps a level playing field where it’s not just one vendor or a couple vendors – anybody can take advantage of that pop-up opportunity – but we need to monitor it somehow and try to gain some revenue to keep it fair.”
According to a report about the updates, “the volume, variety, ingenuity, entrepreneurship, status and embedded risk of the mobile food service industry” has expanded over the past two terms of council, or eight years.
Up until now, the township has managed food vehicles on an ad hoc basis, which staff say allowed for “timely, common sense decision making, and also flexibility depending on the nature and type of event,” such as church fundraisers and Drayton 150.
“Precedent has proven the value of staff being able to pivot on attracting mobile food vendors while protecting volunteers, safeguarding the interest of local restaurant owners/operators, and facilitating traditional community events throughout the township,” the report continues.
Staff reviewed food vehicle bylaws from 12 other municipalities to inform the updates in Mapleton, which are intended to “improve clarity, streamline administrative processes and support consistent enforcement while maintaining appropriate standards for public health and safety,” the report continues.
“Modernizing the bylaw will also help create a fair, transparent, and business-friendly licensing process that supports local economic activity while protecting the public interest.”
