(A) The title of this permit shall be the mobile food unit permit.
(B) A mobile food unit permit, as authorized by the State of Tennessee and the City of Etowah, will not be issued to a person unless the following conditions are met:
(1) The vehicle must be specially designed as a mobile food unit and be in compliance with all applicable health regulations and life safety requirements for the jurisdictional county and the State of Tennessee;
(2) The driver of the vehicle must present a valid Tennessee driver's license, current automobile insurance (including liability insurance for the mobile food unit), and current vehicle registration as required by Tennessee law and enforced by law enforcement authorities;
(3) Any person desiring a mobile food unit permit shall make written application to the City of Etowah. (Applications available at City Hall);
(4) Name, home address, business address, and telephone number of the applicant and the name, address, and telephone number of the owner of the mobile food unit, if other than the applicant, to be used in the operator's business;
(5) A description of the type of food, beverage, fruit, or like consumable product to be sold; and
(6) The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN#), a brief description including make and model, and at least two photographs of the mobile food unit.
(C) Before any permit is issued, the applicant must submit satisfactory evidence that he or she has complied with the state business tax act and all state statutes and regulations controlling health and dispensing of food. Nothing herein shall excuse any applicant/operator from complying with all applicable state statutes and municipal ordinances controlling health standards and requirements and the operation of businesses.
(D) Upon compliance with the provisions of this chapter, the City of Etowah shall issue to the applicant a mobile food unit permit authorizing the operator to do business upon payment of a permit fee of $100; provided, the applicant complies with the other provisions of this chapter.
(E) A permit issued under this chapter shall be valid for one year from the date of issuance and shall be renewed on an annual basis (concurrent with the renewal and issuance of business licenses) upon proper application and payment of the permit fee. Each permit shall be valid for only one mobile food unit. Each operator and/or applicant shall file an additional application and pay an additional permit fee for each additional mobile food unit.
(F) All permits issued under this chapter shall be displayed inside the mobile food unit at all times during the operation of the mobile food unit. The permit shall be displayed in such a manner that it can be viewed from the outside.
(G) All permits will be renewable at the cost of $75 per year.
(H) Applicants may apply to operate as a semi-permanent mobile food unit. The designation as a mobile food unit shall be indicated on the issued permit. In addition to the conditions and requirements listed in this section, all semi-permanent mobile food units must meet the following conditions:
(1) The applicant must supply proof of an active building permit for the construction, improvement, or repair of a permanent restaurant.
(2) The applicant must supply a drawing indicating where the semi-permanent mobile food unit shall be located. The location shall meet the following requirements:
(a) Located on a property where the applicant owns or can supply written permission to operate and store the mobile food unit;
(b) Not located within ten feet of the public right-of-way;
(c) The location shall not impede or obstruct the visibility of any ingress or egress to any operating business or private property;
(d) The location shall not obstruct the visibility of any existing signage.
(3) The permit will expire with the expiration of the building permit.
(Ord. 829, passed 1-28-2019; Ord. 865, passed 3-22-2021) Penalty, see § 116.99