Food Carts Must Operate Under New Guidelines in Roseville

It’s not the mobile food trucks that have been causing a plunge in sales for some Old Town Roseville businesses, but instead from open air vendors or food push-carts.

Now, food carts in Roseville must operate under some new rules if they plan to sell in Roseville.

Roseville City Councilmembers unanimously approved an ordinance amendment for operating food carts in Roseville during their April 18 meeting. Under the new ordinance, food carts cannot be within 100 feet of a brick and mortar business, whose primary business is selling similar items, such as food and beverage items. They also cannot be within 200 feet of another vending facility, according to the ordinance.

Previously, the ordinance stated that food carts could not be within 100 feet of a permanent business whose primary business was to sell the same item, such as hot dogs or flowers.

There were no changes to ordinances regarding mobile food trucks selling in Roseville.

Wayne Wiley, associate planner for the City of Roseville, said this ordinance change came before council after two Old Town Roseville business owners voiced concern about the mobile food vendors at a November council meeting. Terri Merriwether and Kathy Garner, owners of Smokin’ Hot Dog in Roseville, by 65 percent on the days when the food carts stopped in Old Town Roseville.

“It’s hard to compete with vendors that just roll in,” . “We are a positive addition to the area and we pay taxes, rent and utilities. We chose to be here for the long haul, but now that might not be the reality.”

The ordinance amendment will be complaint-driven. Wiley said if a Roseville business sees a food cart not following the new ordinance, a member from the city will follow up.

Wiley said there are exceptions to the minor ordinance change for events like Downtown Tuesday Nights.

What do you think of this new ordinance change?

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