a. Mobile Food Unit Vendors and Pushcart Vendors shall be subject to and shall comply with all City of Bowling Green business registration requirements and shall not be delinquent on any fees or taxes owed to the City. Mobile Food Unit Vendors and Pushcart Vendors shall also comply with all other federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations including, but not limited to, Health Department and Fire Department laws and regulations.
b. Mobile Food Unit Vendors using public streets in the City of Bowling Green outside the Downtown Square Area shall operate only in authorized on-street parallel parking spaces and shall not occupy more than two (2) consecutive parallel parking spaces. Mobile Food Units shall not be parked for longer than four (4) hours and shall not park any closer than ten (10) feet from any structure. Except as authorized in this Subchapter, Mobile Food Unit Vendors shall not park any Mobile Food Unit in a manner which prohibits others from parking in otherwise available spaces or areas or park in any manner that prohibits or hinders the ability of other drivers to safely enter or exit any street or alley or to observe posted traffic signs or signals. Mobile Food Units may operate on public streets outside the Downtown Square Area in the City of Bowling Green from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. each day.
c. Mobile Food Unit Vendors using public streets in the City of Bowling Green within the Downtown Square Area may operate in authorized on-street parallel parking spaces from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Mobile Food Unit Vendors shall not occupy more than two (2) consecutive parallel parking spaces and shall not park for longer than two (2) hours. Except as authorized in this Subchapter, Mobile Food Unit Vendors shall not park any Mobile Food Unit in a manner which prohibits others from parking in otherwise available spaces or areas or park in any manner that prohibits or hinders the ability of other drivers to safely enter or exit any street or alley or to observe posted traffic signs or signals. Any Mobile Food Unit operating in the Downtown Square Area after 5:00 p.m. shall park only in signed and designated loading and unloading zones and shall not operate after 2:30 a.m. All Mobile Food Units shall not be parked closer than ten (10) feet from any structure.
d. Pushcart Vendors may operate on public sidewalks in the City of Bowling Green. Pushcart Vendors shall not operate on public streets, roads or alleys. Pushcart Vendors shall not impede the ingress or egress of any driveway or the entrance into any building. Pushcart Vendors shall not obstruct pedestrian space and shall maintain at a minimum five (5) feet of sidewalk space for pedestrian passage adjacent to the pushcart. Pushcart Vendors may operate on public sidewalks in the City of Bowling Green from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. each day and shall not remain at the same location for longer than four (4) hours.
e. No Mobile Food Unit or Pushcart shall operate in violation of the above provisions unless allowed pursuant to an approved special event application. During special events, no Mobile Food Unit or Pushcart shall occupy any permitted special event location without the consent of the management of the special event.
f. No Mobile Food Unit or Pushcart shall be left unattended or allowed to park on public streets or sidewalks in the City of Bowling Green overnight and any such Mobile Food Unit or Pushcart left unattended or parked overnight may be towed or removed at the City’s discretion. All Mobile Food Unit Vendors and Pushcart Vendors shall promptly cease operations and remove the Mobile Food Unit or Pushcart upon request by appropriate City officials.
g. Mobile Food Unit Vendors or Pushcart Vendors shall only use lighting which is affixed to the Mobile Food Unit or Pushcart and which does not cause any glare that creates a public hazard, nuisance or distraction to other vehicles or neighboring businesses. No flashing, strobe or neon lighting shall be permitted.
h. Mobile Food Unit Vendors and Pushcart Vendors shall supply their own electrical power and shall not connect to City power outlets.
i. The operator of any Mobile Food Unit shall possess a valid driver’s license and shall provide that license upon request by any authorized City official.
j. Mobile Food Units and Pushcarts shall at all times operate in a manner that ensures the safety of patrons, pedestrians and the public. All operations of authorized Mobile Food Units shall serve customers only from the side of the Mobile Food Unit that is parked abutting and parallel to the curb and from the side opposite of the flow of traffic. No Mobile Food Units or Pushcarts shall solicit drive-through service or solicit or make any sales to occupants of vehicles nor shall Mobile Food Units or Pushcarts operate in a manner to cause congestion that impedes pedestrian or vehicle traffic or interferes with the public use of any rights-of-way, sidewalks or public benches. No tables, chairs or similar property shall be permitted on public property. No cords, cables or wires shall be attached to any part of the Mobile Food Unit, trailer or Pushcart that cross any public sidewalk or street.
k. The Mobile Food Unit or Pushcart shall provide its own waste and recycling containers in sufficient size to collect all waste and recyclables generated by the Mobile Food Unit or Pushcart. The operator of the Mobile Food Unit or Pushcart shall remove all garbage, trash, paper, cups, cans or litter from the immediate area around the Mobile Food Unit or Pushcart. No waste shall be disposed of in public waste receptacles. No hoses or drainage of grease traps or similar liquids shall be drained into any storm water drainage system and all such liquids shall remain on the Mobile Food Unit or Pushcart until properly disposed.
l. Mobile Food Unit Vendors and Pushcart Vendors shall be responsible for any damage to public property or public streets caused by the operation of the Mobile Food Unit or Pushcart, including, but not limited to, damage due to stakes, rods or other support methods.
m. Appropriate City inspectors, fire inspectors and police officers shall be authorized to inspect the permitted Mobile Food Unit or Pushcart without notice and without consent during normal operating hours.
n. All Mobile Food Units and Pushcarts shall be subject to Subchapter 9-3 (Noise) of the City of Bowling Green Code of Ordinances. Sound absorbing devices are recommended to contain or deflect the noise from generators. All Mobile Food Unit generators shall be rated at or below 80 decibels. Amplified music is not permitted.
o. Consent for Mobile Food Units or Pushcarts to operate on other City property to include City parking lots and parks shall be obtained from the Parks and Recreation Director for the use of any park property and from the Assistant City Manager / CFO for all other City properties prior to operating on such City property. The City may impose conditions for the approval of such requests as it deems necessary for health and safety and to mitigate the impact of vending that conflicts with City operations. The City has the authority to limit or prohibit such operation on other City properties.
(Ord. BG2019-50, 11/19/2019; Ord. BG2024-9, 5/21/2024)