A. Special Event Mobile Food Vendors:
1. Permits for the operation of special event mobile food vending will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis with an emphasis on public safety. Zoning, location, hours of operation, parking requirements, etc., will be reviewed as a special event following the same process used for outdoor special events and catered special events defined in Section 3-2-6. In cases where an applicant desires a special event under Section 3-2-6, mobile food vendor permits will be reviewed in conjunction with outdoor special event or catered special event permits.
2. All mobile food vendors for special events shall possess a permit as defined in section 3-24-2 and remain in good standing with the City.
B. Fixed Point Mobile Food Vendors: Fixed point mobile food vendors are permitted in C-2 Central Business District (except the downtown area as defined in the Unified Development Ordinance), C-3 Highway Business District, M-1 Light Manufacturing District, and M-2 Heavy Manufacturing District, provided the location meets the following:
1. Each vendor must receive written authorization from the property owner on the form provided by the City.
2. The location cannot be within two hundred fifty feet (250') from the property line of any other permanent prepared food service vendor. This provision may be waived in writing by the impacted business(es).
3. The entire vehicle, trailer, or cart must comply with all setback requirements for the zoning district in which the mobile food vending operation will occur. A minimum twenty-five feet (25') setback is required for any zoning classification if the required setbacks are less. The location of mobile food vending operations and equipment shall be entirely at or behind the front plane of any building or structure related to the primary use of the property. An exception will be made to allow mobile food vendors to operate beyond the front plane of the building when a business or property has more than one hundred (100) parking stalls (subject to staff review).
4. A minimum of five (5) dedicated parking spaces beyond those required for the primary business are required.
5. A drawing to scale depicting the location of any vehicles or equipment used in the mobile food vending operation, including compliance with setbacks and dedicated parking spaces is required to be submitted with the application for a fixed point mobile food vendor permit.
C. General Requirements:
1. Signs: Signage, flags, banners, etc. shall be consistent with standards approved by the Community Development Department from time to time.
2. Public Health and Safety: All mobile food vendors shall meet public safety requirements, including health, sanitation, and fire and life safety requirements. Food may only be dispensed from a properly sanitized conveyance licensed by the DeKalb County Public Health Department. Applicants shall demonstrate proof of valid Food Safety permit from the DeKalb County Health Department and comply with all required regulations during the duration of the City’s permit. Failure to maintain a Food Safety permit from the DeKalb County Health Department will result in an immediate termination of the City’s mobile food vendor permit.
3. Fire and Life Safety: Requirements for fire and life safety shall generally be the same as those applied to other restaurants within the City. Additionally, mobile food vendors preparing food on-site shall conform with NFPA standards for “Mobile and Temporary Cooking Operations” (NFPA 1: Fire Code, Ch. 50.7 & Annex “B”) and standards for “Ventilation Control and Fire Protection of Commercial Cooking Operations” (NFPA 96) and ensure gas or fuels are separated from the cooking/serving area and smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are installed.
4. Safety Inspections: Any vehicle over 8,000 lbs. and trailers with a gross weight over 5,000 lbs. shall obtain an Illinois Department of Transportation Certificate of Safety. Safety inspections are required every six months. Garages or service stations licensed by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) may conduct safety inspections.
5. Sight-triangle: Vehicles and equipment shall be arranged so as not to limit a driver’s visibility.
6. Sanitization: Mobile food vendors shall have access to a toilet with hand sanitization, within three hundred feet (300') of the portable vending operation, at all hours that the facility is open for business.
7. Waste: Mobile food vendors shall provide a stable waste receptacle that is emptied and maintained on a regular basis.
8. Electricity: If any power is required, it shall be protected with ground fault circuit interrupters and be provided through a properly sized, UL approved card that is safely installed.
9. Inspection: Staff will conduct inspections to ensure compliance with the provisions of this chapter as necessary. (Ord. 2022.02, 5-2-2022)
10. Applicable fees are provided for in the City of Sycamore Consolidated Fee Schedule. (Ord. 2022.02, 5-2-2022; amd. Ord. 2023.04, 5-1-2023)