San Francisco May Ease Food Truck Rules
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS / AP) -- Taco truck operators may soon get some help in San Francisco.
Supervisor Bevan Dufty is the chief sponsor of proposed legislation that would make it easier and cheaper for street food vendors to operate.
"These trucks bring people out and excite people about something different for lunch or dinner," said Dufty.
The Supervisors' City Services Committee gave its approval to the proposed law on Monday afternoon. The full Board of Supervisors still must vote on the measure before it can become law.
KCBS' Barbara Taylor Reports:
The proposal would allow operators of food carts and trucks to get annual permits from the city's Fire Department and Department of Public Health instead of being forced to undergo several inspections a year.
The Department of Public Works would also issue one set of permits for multiple street locations. They currently get site permits from the Police Department for each location.
The measure would also give brick-and-mortar restaurant owners a venue to complain about competition from the rolling operators. Nearby businesses would be notified of applications and give them a chance to protest a site permit.
The mobile food cart movement in San Francisco is expected to continue to grow with legislation approved by the Board of Supervisors.
Getting a permit from the police department has been a long and expensive process.
"When I tried to start my business, the only way I could was to sell pretzels, because I couldn't get through the regulations," said one entrepreneur.
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