Property owners no longer have to renew premise permits for food trucks

Newton City Council on July 10 made it easier for property owners to host food trucks and other types of merchants by amending the business regulations of city code and ultimately removing the annual renewal of premise permits. The council voted 6-0 to adopt the amended ordinance after the third reading.

According to city documents, premise permits will no longer expire after one year so long as there are no changes to the site or buildings on the property. Food trucks, or mobile food units, are only allowed in the designated parking area approved by the premise permit, the ordinance states.

The premise permits were originally established in 2022.

Food trucks were on the rise in Newton back in 2021, which resulted in the city council making an ordinance requiring property owners to acquire premise permits. The ordinance passed but had generated some controversy, with many fearing the ordinance would dissuade food trucks from frequenting the town.

While the updated premise permit ordinance affects peddlers, solicitors and transient merchants in addition to the food trucks, the latter have to be inspected. According to city code, food trucks have to be inspected by the fire department. Inspections are required annually and are conducted by the fire chief.

To make the inspections process easier, the fire department may accept — at its discretion — inspection reports from another city’s fire inspector to satisfy the annual inspection requirement. Food trucks must also follow standards laid out in the code, such as parking restrictions and where the pick-up window should face.