At the start of the pandemic, the City has received an increase in inquiries from residents looking for food truck options. Food truck vendors also contacted the City regarding the fees and requirements for food trucks. A number of food truck vendors have stated that they would do business in Independence but the high cost of the permits/licensing has kept them from doing so up to this point even though they have had numerous inquiries from Independence residents.
On July 6th, the City Council passed Resolution No. 6572 waiving the health permit and business license fees for mobile food units for a period of 6 months. This temporary fee waiver for mobile food units provided staff time to further research the issue and make any necessary updates to fees.
Since the temporary waiver was approved, 6 mobile food units applied for and received their health permits.
The current health permit fee for a mobile food unit is $200; this fee has been in place since 2012. In addition to the health permit, a $75 business license fee is also required.
Staff proposes to reduce the annual health permit fee to $50 and the business license fee to $25. All mobile food units will still be required to comply with the health regulations of the City and inspected as required by the City’s health code as well as remitting sales tax to the City.