A. Mobile Vendor is described as any vendor who sells wares from a mobile vehicle, trailer, pop-up tent, or any other type of non-permanent structure used for the sale of food or merchandise and can be taken down at the end of the day for transport. This includes mobile vendors who provide free services to the public, including, but not limited to, hearing aid testing and cellular phones.
B. Location: A mobile vendor cannot be within three hundred feet (300') of the following streets inside city limits:
1. Broadway Avenue.
2. Boren Boulevard.
3. Wrangler Boulevard (also known as State Highway 9).
4. Milt Phillips Avenue (also known as State Highway 99 or US 377).
5. Harvey Road (also known as US 270).
6. Designated Area Exception: A 'designated area' for mobile vendors may be approved for short periods of time upon application to the office of Community Development. All applications must be submitted at least one week in advance of the event. The Director of Community Development shall be authorized to approve or disapprove the application.
7. A permanent designated area may be determined by the City Council.
8. Exemption: Food Truck Events: A currently operational commercial business may apply for up to twelve (12) event permits per year on their premises to host mobile food vendor(s).
a. An 'event' will include a period of time beginning noon Friday and ending at noon the following Monday, for any or all days between that period.
b. Commercial businesses are responsible for obtaining a fifty dollars ($50.00) permit for each event.
c. All mobile food vendors catering these events will be responsible for obtaining an annual license to work within the City of Seminole at a cost of two hundred dollars ($200.00).
d. Mobile food vendors must continue to he compliant with state and city rules and regulations, and must not park in any street/highway rights of way.
e. Vendors shall make trash receptacles available to the public, and the vendors and businesses are required to keep the area free of trash.
f. Commercial businesses must include ample parking space as to not congest or block any streets/highways or cause a sight barrier for other vehicles.
g. Mobile Food vendor applications are subject to all applicable rules set forth in this title.
C. All other mobile vendors must obtain an annual license before establishing any vending operations. The license fee is two hundred dollars ($200.00) annually. Licenses shall be valid from January 1 until December 31 annually.
1. Exceptions: Fees may be waived for the following:
a. City-wide events sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, Seminole Main Street Association, Seminole Public Schools, or similar event;
b. Non-profit mobile vendor with 501(c)(3) or other appropriate non-profit designation;
c. Special events approved for waiver of fees upon application to the Permit Board.
D. All mobile vendors must provide appropriate documentation from the Oklahoma Tax Commission, Oklahoma Health Department or other government agencies as may be applicable to the office of Community Development upon application for permit or upon request.
E. Municipal Property: Mobile vendors may only utilize municipal property with the consent of the City Manager or his/her designee. Any request to utilize or access municipal property for mobile vending operations shall be approved by the Permit Board. This provision shall not apply to lessees of municipal property or vendors approved by the Director of the Donald W. Reynolds Community and Wellness Center.
F. All mobile vendors shall be required to notify the office of Community Development within twenty-four (24) hours in advance of arrival and commencing operations. Permit and License fees shall be paid in advance or upon arrival to the office of Community Development.
G. The Director of Community Development may deny the issuance of a permit and/or license under the following circumstances:
1. Information in the application is false, lacking or unverifiable;
2. Verification cannot be obtained regarding current status of OTC permit;
3. Unresolved customer complaints are found to exist involving any matter related to the business activities of the applicant;
4. A person has a history of criminal conduct which may pose a threat to the protection of the public good;
5. A person's character and/or business reputation are determined to be unsound and contrary to the public good.
H. Exceptions: The following vendors shall be exempt from obtaining a license as follows:
1. Fireworks vendors who have obtained a proper permit pursuant to Title 9, Chapter 10.
2. Farmers who market produce pursuant to Title 9, Chapter 2, Section 8A.
3. Any other license or permit required by Title 9 of the Code of Ordinances. (Ord. 1203, 5-9-2017; amd. Ord. 1234, 11-12-2019; Ord. 1270, 8-9-2022)