Guelph looks at loosening food truck bylaws

The city of Guelph is considering loosening a local bylaw to make it easier forfood trucks to operate in the city, though they still won't be able to do business in the downtown core except for special events.

A staff report recommending changes was accepted at a public service committeemeeting Monday night and the final report will go before city council for approval on July 20.

In the report, staff said that food truck ownersfind the current rules "too onerous for them to operate within the city."

If the report is approved, changes include allowing food trucks to operate in more places throughout the cityinstead of just on private land that has been zoned for food truck use and changes to licensing to make it easier for food truck owners.

Currently, food truck operators have to buy an annual licence for one specific spot, at a cost of $355.

"The proposal that staff are seeking council approval on will allow the annual licence to be used at multiple locations and be transferrable to different events," said DougGodfrey, Guelph's manager of bylaw, compliance and security. "We're also looking at creating a temporary licence for those businesses that want to come in and operate in Guelphfora short term."

Under the proposed bylaws, ice cream trucks could hit residential streets starting August 1this year and all food trucks could operate on commercial or industrial land outside of the city core.However, food trucks would be able to operate in the GuelphFarmers' Market parking lot and in front of the market up to Carden Street, while the market is open.

Staff will still be working on amendments to allow food trucks to operate in the city's core and in city parks, but those changes won't be proposed until 2016.