For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning:
DEPARTMENT ("DBR"). The Department of Business Regulation.
DIRECTOR. The Director of the Department of Business Regulation.
EVENT PERMIT. A permit the town issues to the organizer of a public mobile food establishment event located on public property.
FARM (LARGE). Agricultural land consisting of one or more contiguous parcels totaling ten acres or more in area, together with principal and accessory buildings, upon which agricultural operations are conducted.
FARM (SMALL). Agricultural land consisting of one or more contiguous parcels totaling less than ten acres in area, together with principal and accessory buildings, upon which agricultural operations are conducted.
FIRE SAFETY CODE. The meaning set forth in Chapter 28.1 of Title 23 of the R.I. Gen. Laws and shall include any regulations promulgated thereunder.
ICE CREAM TRUCK. A mobile food establishment truck which exclusively sells ice cream or other frozen desserts as defined in R.I. Gen. Laws § 21-9-1.
MOBILE FOOD ESTABLISHMENT ("MFE"). A food service operation that is operated from a movable motor-driven or propelled vehicle, portable structure, or watercraft that can change location. MOBILE FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS specifically includes, but is not limited to, food trucks, food carts, ice-cream trucks/carts, and lemonade trucks/carts.
MOBILE FOOD ESTABLISHMENT CART ("MFEC"). A food service operation that is operated from a movable, non-motorized vehicle no larger than seven feet by five feet that can change location. Any MFEC which remains attached to a motorized vehicle that transports it to a location shall be considered an MFET and not an MFEC. MOBILE FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS CART specifically includes, but is not limited to, food carts, ice-cream carts and lemonade carts.
MOBILE FOOD ESTABLISHMENT TRUCK ("MFET"). A food service operation that is operated from a movable motor-driven or propelled vehicle, portable structure, or watercraft that can change location. MOBILE FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS specifically includes, but is not limited to, food trucks, ice-cream trucks and lemonade trucks.
MOBILE FOOD ESTABLISHMENT EVENT. An event where an individual has ordered or commissioned the operation of one or more mobile food establishments at a private or public gathering.
MOBILE FOOD ESTABLISHMENT OPERATOR or OPERATOR. A person or corporate entity who or that owns, manages, or controls, or who or that has the duty to manage or control, the operation of a mobile food establishment.
MOBILE FOOD ESTABLISHMENT VENDOR or VENDOR. A person who prepares, sells, cooks or serves food or beverages from a mobile food establishment.
MUNICIPAL MOBILE FOOD ESTABLISHMENT PERMIT. A permit issued by the town to a mobile food service establishment operator that possesses a current state mobile food establishment permit.
REGISTRANT. The holder of a "state mobile food establishment registration."
RIDOH. The Rhode Island Department of Health.
SHORT TERM PERMIT. A permit issued by the town to a mobile food service establishment operator that possesses a current state mobile food registration, allowing the MFE operator to operate at a temporary mass gathering or mobile food establishment event that possesses a current state mobile food establishment permit.
STATE MOBILE FOOD ESTABLISHMENT REGISTRATION or REGISTRATION. A registration issued by the Department of Business Regulation which authorizes a mobile food establishment to operate in the state.
TEMPORARY MASS GATHERING. An actual or reasonably anticipated assembly of 500 or more people that continues, or reasonably can be expected to continue, for two or more hours per day; or an event that requires a more extensive review to protect public health and safety because the event's nature or
conditions have the potential of generating environmental or health risks, and includes, but is not limited to, "special events" as defined in the food code regulations promulgated by RIDOH, and festivals and concerts, but shall not include an assembly of people at a location with permanent facilities designed for that specific assembly.
(Ord. 2020-5, passed 7-6-20; Am. Ord. 2021-08, passed 7-19-21; Am. Ord. 2021-17, passed 10-18-21)